American cruise passengers who were potentially exposed to hantavirus have now returned to the United States. Most of them are currently in a quarantine facility, where they are enjoying hotel-like amenities while monitoring for symptoms of the dangerous disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advises a 42-day quarantine for individuals possibly exposed to hantavirus, which can be fatal in up to 40% of cases. As a result, these passengers might be in quarantine for an extended period, though the exact timeline for their release remains uncertain.
“The decision on when they can be discharged will be made by the CDC after a thorough risk assessment,” explained Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, in a statement to The Post.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has indicated that passengers may leave the quarantine center after the initial health screening, provided they agree to ongoing health monitoring once they return home.
Among the group, at least one American has tested positive for the hantavirus, which was responsible for the deaths of three passengers and infected several others aboard the HV Hondius during its Atlantic crossing. This individual, along with another American exhibiting symptoms, is receiving treatment at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
At least one American tested positive for the virus that killed three passengers and infected several others on the HV Hondius during its Atlantic voyage; that passenger, plus another American showing symptoms, are being treated at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
The rest are in the National Quarantine Unit in at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, where they spend their days under observation with spacious rooms, movies, a gym, and other amenities.
“Itâs a lovely setup that allows them access to their family members and loved ones,” Khan said.
“A few years ago, when we did this for COVID, someone even figured out how to get food delivered,” he added.
None of the 15 quarantined passengers in Nebraska have tested positive or are showing symptoms, Khan said.
As for the patients’ spirits: “Theyâre just glad to be off that ship and back in America.”
Hantavirus, which normally spreads via rodent feces, can take up to eight weeks for symptoms to appear. These can include fever, fatigue, headaches, chills, vomiting and diarrhea before the virus fully attacks the lungs and slowly suffocates its victim.
The wife of the Dutch couple believed to have contracted the virus while bird watching early last month had left the ship and taken a commercial flight before she succumbed to the disease.
Her husband got sick on board the ship and spread the virus to the ship’s doctor, who is recovering.
At least 23 passengers left the ship after the outbreak began, including two Americans who returned to Texas and one to Virginia.
Public health officials are conducting contact tracing on anyone they may have come in contact with, but the virus requires close, prolonged contact to spread.
Thus, it probably won’t grow into another COVID-level pandemic, Khan said.
âIt requires large saliva droplets from talking to people, close person-to-person spread. ⦠Weâre probably looking at more than a âHello, how are you?ââ he said.
