Additional Coverage:
OMAHA, Neb. – The last eight American passengers who spent 42 days in a specialized quarantine unit in Nebraska following exposure to a rare hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship have now been released.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed Monday that the quarantine period has officially ended. “Through close collaboration among federal, state, and local partners, HHS helped protect the American people, contain potential risks, and bring this response effort to a successful conclusion,” said HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard.
The passengers were among more than 120 people evacuated from the MV Hondius, which docked in the Canary Islands last month after a hantavirus outbreak resulted in three fatalities. Of those evacuated, 18 Americans were transferred to the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, while others came from various countries.
In addition to those evacuated in protective gear, at least 30 passengers had disembarked earlier, including seven Americans who were allowed to self-monitor at home. When the ship later reached the Netherlands, 25 crew members and two medical staff remained on board and underwent quarantine.
The World Health Organization has yet to provide updates on the status of other quarantined individuals worldwide. In total, 13 cases of the virus were identified among those on the ship, including the three deaths.
One American passenger, Angela Perryman, who was subject to a controversial quarantine order despite some health officials deeming it unnecessary, described the quarantine’s end. “We were locked in our rooms until 1:55 p.m.
And at 2 o’clock, ‘OK, well, everybody walk out and go home,’” Perryman said from her Florida home. She departed on a flight that evening, with the government covering travel costs.
While seven individuals chose to remain voluntarily, Perryman was compelled to stay under the quarantine directive. The 42-day monitoring period was set due to hantavirus symptoms sometimes taking up to six weeks to appear; however, none of the quarantined Americans developed the illness. Ten others had been released earlier with agreements for home monitoring.
The MV Hondius, a Dutch cruise ship traveling through the South Atlantic, was the site of this outbreak. Health officials believe the virus originated from a Dutch couple who contracted it during a visit to South America. Unlike typical hantaviruses, which spread through inhalation of rodent droppings, the Andes virus involved in this outbreak can, in rare instances, transmit between people.
Throughout their stay, passengers in the Omaha quarantine unit were supported by local restaurants and food trucks delivering meals, and nurses occasionally brought Starbucks beverages. The quarantine rooms were well-equipped with amenities such as desks, televisions, internet, and exercise equipment to ease the long isolation.
Passenger Jake Rosmarin shared his relief and gratitude through social media, posting a video as he left the facility and later capturing the Omaha skyline from his flight home to Boston. Rosmarin expressed heartfelt thanks to the quarantine staff, the Omaha community, and supporters who helped him through the experience.
In contrast, Perryman criticized the prolonged quarantine, describing it as “a political stunt,” citing Florida officials’ refusal to provide round-the-clock surveillance, which led to her forced stay despite initial plans for passengers to return home on commercial flights.
The quarantine’s conclusion marks a significant milestone in managing this unusual hantavirus outbreak, highlighting the coordination between federal and local agencies to protect public health.