CDC Orders Quarantine for Two Passengers from Hantavirus-Affected Cruise Ship
The CDC has mandated quarantine for two passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship following a hantavirus outbreak, with 16 others requested to remain under observation in Nebraska.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued quarantine orders for two passengers from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which experienced a hantavirus outbreak. These individuals are currently at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. The orders were signed by CDC's Acting Director, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, under the Public Health Service Act.
In addition to the two quarantined passengers, 16 others who were aboard the MV Hondius have been requested to remain at the Nebraska Quarantine Facility through May 31, marking the 21-day point of their monitoring period. This decision follows the identification of three additional hantavirus cases—one each in France, Spain, and Canada—since the passengers disembarked.
The MV Hondius, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, docked in Rotterdam, Netherlands, for disinfection after the outbreak, which resulted in at least 11 confirmed cases and three fatalities. The ship's crew members are undergoing quarantine and regular testing, though none have shown symptoms.
Hantaviruses typically spread through inhalation of contaminated rodent droppings. The Andes virus, involved in this outbreak, is known for potential human-to-human transmission in rare cases. Public health officials emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low.
