Two more former passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship have left the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center after spending more than four weeks under observation for possible Hantavirus exposure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requested that individuals from the cruise ship remain at the unit through May 31. Health officials say Hantavirus symptoms can take up to 42 days to appear.
Ten of the 18 former passengers have now returned to their home states for continued monitoring under the jurisdiction of their local and state public health departments. Eight passengers remain in Omaha for monitoring.
Travel for the former passengers was coordinated through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, along with each passenger’s local and state health department. Officials say the individuals did not travel commercially, and appropriate biocontainment measures were in place during transport.
UNMC/Nebraska Medicine is one of 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers within the federal National Special Pathogen System.
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