Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship: Quarantine Measures and Passenger Challenges
Passengers who were aboard a cruise ship that experienced a hantavirus outbreak are finally set to leave quarantine, but the journey back to normalcy is far from over. The situation has raised concerns about the strict measures being implemented by federal authorities.
Strict Quarantine Protocols
The 18 passengers currently under observation at the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, Nebraska, will face a challenging period even after leaving the facility. Those who are allowed to return home will be required to isolate for an additional three weeks and undergo 24/7 monitoring. This level of surveillance is considered unusually stringent compared to previous containment efforts for the same virus.
Attorney Steven Hyman, representing two passengers from New York, shared insights with the New York Times about the protocols. He mentioned that his clients were informed about the strict requirements. Hyman also noted that the passengers were eager to return home despite the isolation conditions.
Uncertainty About Return
While some passengers may be permitted to return home, the exact number remains unclear. New York Health Commissioner James McDonald stated that those allowed to leave could do so via noncommercial flights and self-isolate until June 22. However, there was no mention of whether continuous monitoring would still apply.
Hyman expressed confidence that his clients would return home on Monday and adhere to CDC guidelines. Despite this, he emphasized that the monitoring process seemed unnecessary. Some passengers have opted to remain in the quarantine unit for the full 42-day incubation period, just in case they develop symptoms.
Lengthy Isolation Period
The passengers have already spent nearly three weeks in isolation. They were brought back to the US from the Canary Islands on May 11 and have been monitored at the only federally-funded quarantine unit in the country since then. None of the passengers have shown any symptoms or signs of the disease.
At least two passengers were ordered to stay in the Nebraska quarantine unit until at least Sunday, marking the end of the 21-day period when symptoms are most likely to appear. These orders came from Interim Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Jay Bhattacharya after the passengers made plans to return home and self-isolate.
Differences in Protocols
It appears that at least seven Americans who left the cruise ship early are subject to less strict rules. These individuals took commercial flights back to the US and have been self-isolating in their homes with daily check-ins from healthcare workers. The reason for the differing protocols between the two groups remains unclear.
The cruise ship where the virus broke out, the MV Hondius, began its trip to Argentina in early April. Two passengers died from the Andes strain of the Hantavirus that month, and a third died in early May.
Legal and Medical Perspectives
Speaking about his clients, Hyman described the ordeal as long and stressful. He highlighted that all the passengers did was go on a cruise, yet they ended up on front-page news and at risk of their lives. He hopes for a happy resolution and believes the next best thing is for them to return home where they can be comfortable.
Hantavirus is rare and typically carried by rodents. It usually does not spread between humans, but the Andes strain can be transmitted between people who had close contact. The CDC has stated that there have been no confirmed cases of the virus in the US connected to the cruise ship outbreak.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the CDC for further comment.
