American Doctor Initially Testing Positive for Hantavirus Now Tests Negative

Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, a 69-year-old oncologist from Bend, Oregon, who was aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, initially tested positive for hantavirus. However, subsequent tests have returned negative results, leading to his transfer from the biocontainment unit to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Kornfeld had developed flu-like symptoms during the cruise and assisted in caring for ill passengers after the ship's doctor became sick. Reflecting on his experience, he stated, "At the time, it was felt like this is just some virus. And now, in retrospect, there is a question, could it have been hantavirus? But it's just speculation. There's no way to really know."

The initial positive result was considered inconclusive by the World Health Organization, prompting further testing. Dr. Angela Hewlett, medical director of Nebraska's biocontainment unit, commented, "I suspect that the initial test was a false positive."

The MV Hondius experienced an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus, resulting in multiple cases and fatalities. Passengers, including 24 Americans, were evacuated and are under monitoring. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk of widespread transmission in the U.S. to be low, as hantavirus does not spread easily between people.

Kornfeld is now in the National Quarantine Unit alongside other passengers from the cruise ship who are being monitored. He is considering whether to complete the entire 42-day quarantine in Nebraska or to finish it at his home in Oregon, stating, "I think everybody in this unit is sort of having that discussion with their own health system and with their family. Some will probably stay here the entire time, some may ultimately go home."