The Waiting Begins

Eighteen American passengers potentially exposed to hantavirus during a cruise have returned to the U.S., according to health officials. They arrived back on Monday.

Sixteen of these passengers are currently isolating at a quarantine center in Omaha. Among them, one person tested “mildly” positive for the virus and is in a more confined biocontainment unit, while a couple, one of whom has mild symptoms, was transported to a hospital in Atlanta.

The exact duration of their isolation remains uncertain. However, Admiral Brian Christine from the Department of Health and Human Services stated at a news conference that the situation is under control. He emphasized that the risk of hantavirus to the general population is “very, very low.”

The affected ship, the MV Hondius, which is registered in the Netherlands, left Argentina on April 1 with approximately 150 passengers heading to the Canary Islands. Sadly, three passengers have died from the virus, and a number of others became ill or tested positive, according to officials.

There isn’t a targeted treatment or widely available vaccine for hantavirus, which has a long incubation period of up to 42 days. The affected American passengers are between their late 20s and 80s; at least one holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Britain. Officials are unsure which states the passengers are from, but confirmed that three individuals are from New York, including one from New York City.

Depending on their health status, they may eventually be allowed to continue quarantining at home, Captain Brendan Jackson from the CDC noted. Each would have a personalized plan regarding their quarantine.

No timeline was given for when they might be able to leave.

Dr. Michael Wadman, who leads the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, shared that the passengers there are doing well and showing no symptoms, although they were feeling a bit tired and needed rest.

The quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center comprises 20 specialized rooms designed to contain contaminated air. Health professionals described the facility as similar to a hotel, allowing monitoring but prohibiting visits.

As for the passenger in biocontainment, Dr. Angela Hewlett stated that the individual is doing well, has a good appetite, and currently exhibits no symptoms.

Hantavirus is a rare group of viruses associated with rodents, and the World Health Organization identified the Andes subtype as affecting these passengers. It’s transmissible between people in close contact.

Captain Jackson explained that the passenger labeled as “mildly” positive had one out of two test samples indicating the virus, suggesting some ambiguity in the results. There are nuances in such tests, he said, indicating that outcomes can vary.

During the flight to Omaha from Tenerife, the passenger with the positive result and their partner with mild symptoms were transported in biocontainment units.

Captain Jackson further clarified that the couple in Atlanta was sent to Emory University Hospital to potentially allow space for more individuals needing transfer in Omaha. He mentioned that the symptoms experienced by one person in Atlanta do not definitively indicate hantavirus infection, explaining the cautious monitoring approach being taken.

The biocontainment unit in Omaha was initially established in 2014 for U.S. citizens evacuated due to Ebola. In 2020, it was utilized for early U.S. cases of Covid-19.

States like Georgia, California, and Arizona are monitoring residents who disembarked from the cruise ship prior to the outbreak being recognized. Seven Americans left on April 24 and returned home on commercial flights. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya from the CDC indicated that none had symptoms upon their travel, which is why no alerts were issued for other travelers.

The cruise ship docked near the Canary Islands on Sunday, where epidemiologists met the American passengers to evaluate their exposure risk. Most of the roughly 150 passengers and crew members have since returned home, while 32 crew members will remain on the ship as it heads for the Netherlands to dock.