RFK Jr. Orders Woman To Remain In Hantavirus Quarantine Against Medical Expert's Advice

A Florida woman, Angela Perryman, remains quarantined at the University of Nebraska Medical Center against her will after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. overrode a CDC medical officer’s recommendation that she could safely self-quarantine at home. Perryman, exposed to hantavirus on a cruise ship in May, has been held at the facility since then, with her attorney, Steven Hyman, calling the situation unfair and politically motivated. Kennedy personally signed the order on June 10 to extend Perryman’s quarantine until June 22, despite CDC’s Dr. Michael Bell determining she posed no public health risk. The CDC initially allowed cruise passengers to self-monitor at home but later imposed stricter rules, requiring in-person monitoring and 24-hour guards—a condition Florida refused to meet. Florida’s Department of Health stated it would facilitate Perryman’s return with standard public health monitoring but rejected excessive surveillance demands. Perryman is the only remaining quarantine case at the Nebraska facility, with Hyman describing her confinement as a ‘prison’ despite no physical violence. Kennedy, who lacks formal medical training, has faced criticism for opposing COVID-19 restrictions during the pandemic. Florida officials emphasized that established public health practices, without invasive measures, sufficiently protect public safety. HHS and CDC did not respond to requests for comment. Perryman’s case highlights tensions between federal quarantine policies and state autonomy, particularly under Kennedy’s leadership. The dispute centers on balancing public health and personal freedom, with Florida arguing for less restrictive alternatives.