All U.S. cruise passengers potentially exposed to hantavirus have returned to the mainland, and most are currently in quarantine centers that offer a hotel-like experience. They’re waiting to see if they’ve contracted the virus, which can be fatal for up to 40% of those infected.
It seems they might be there for a while. The World Health Organization suggests a 42-day quarantine for anyone at risk of exposure to hantavirus. The timeline for when they might be able to leave is still uncertain.
According to Dr. Ali Khan from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s School of Public Health, it’s the CDC’s responsibility to assess the risk and decide the best approach for public safety.
The CDC has indicated that patients can opt for testing after an initial screening, as long as they are willing to undergo health monitoring once back home.
One American has tested positive for the virus so far, leading to the deaths of three passengers during the HV Hondius’s Atlantic voyage. This patient and another American showing symptoms are being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. The rest have been placed in the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Here, they’re observed in comfortable rooms, complete with entertainment options like movies and a gym.
Dr. Khan remarked, “This is a great setting to be in touch with family and loved ones,” adding that during past health crises, they’d even arranged food deliveries for quarantined individuals.
Of the 15 passengers currently in Nebraska, none have shown symptoms or tested positive. Khan noted that the patients seem relieved to be off the ship and back in America.
Hantaviruses are typically spread through rodent droppings, with symptoms potentially taking up to eight weeks to show. Affected individuals might experience fever, fatigue, and other severe symptoms before the virus progresses to affect the lungs.
The case seems to have originated with a Dutch couple, where the wife contracted the virus while birdwatching. After leaving the ship and taking a flight, she unfortunately passed away. Her husband then fell ill on board, transmitting the virus to the ship’s doctor, who has since recovered. Following the outbreak, at least 23 passengers disembarked, including a couple of Americans who returned to Texas and Virginia.
Public health officials are tracking everyone who might have been exposed, but Khan mentioned that hantavirus typically requires close, prolonged interactions to spread. So, it’s unlikely to lead to a widespread pandemic like what we saw with COVID-19. He added, “It takes more than a brief exchange. We’re talking about substantial interactions, not just casual greetings.”
