A cruise ship is seen at sea. U.S. passengers from the MV Hondius, linked to a hantavirus outbreak, are expected to be monitored in Omaha at Nebraska Medicine and UNMC’s National Quarantine Unit.
Nebraska Medicine and UNMC will receive and monitor U.S. citizens from the MV Hondius in the National Quarantine Unit, a federally funded facility on the Omaha medical campus.
Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have been asked by federal partners to receive and monitor U.S. citizens from the MV Hondius, a cruise ship linked to a hantavirus outbreak.
The individuals will be observed in the National Quarantine Unit, located on the campus of Nebraska Medical Center and UNMC in Omaha. Nebraska Medicine said the people being monitored are currently well and have no symptoms of illness.
The response is being coordinated with the Douglas County Health Department, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and federal health partners.
Passengers will be monitored at the National Quarantine Unit
The National Quarantine Unit is the only federally funded quarantine unit of its kind in the United States. It was designed to safely house and monitor people who may have been exposed to high-consequence infectious diseases.
Nebraska Medicine said the quarantine process allows medical teams to observe individuals during the incubation period of the virus while preventing possible spread.
Dr. Michael Ash, CEO of Nebraska Medicine, said the medical center has prepared for situations like this through years of training with federal and state partners.
“Our teams have trained for decades alongside federal and state partners to make sure we can safely provide care while protecting our staff and the broader community,” Ash said.
Nebraska Medical Center is also home to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, where patients with high-consequence infectious diseases can be treated if needed.
Officials say there is no risk to the community from the unit
Nebraska Medicine said the facilities were built to prevent exposure to the public.
“We understand situations like this can raise questions,” Ash said. “People should know these facilities were specifically designed to prevent exposure to the public. There is no risk to the community from people being cared for in these units.”
The National Quarantine Unit is located inside the Dr. Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center. The unit includes 20 rooms with individual negative air pressure systems, single-occupancy space, private bathrooms, exercise equipment and Wi-Fi for longer stays.
Its volunteer team includes nurses, physicians and allied health professionals who train regularly in specialized infection prevention and control procedures.
Nebraska Medicine and UNMC said they will continue coordinating with public health partners and provide updates as appropriate.
CDC teams will meet passengers before they arrive in Nebraska
CDC personnel are expected to meet American passengers from the MV Hondius in the Canary Islands before they are transported to the United States for quarantine in Nebraska.
Health teams are also preparing to assess passengers and crew members after the ship reaches the Canary Islands. The process is expected to include medical screening, review of possible exposure histories and coordination with national health authorities.
More than 100 passengers and crew members remain on board the MV Hondius as international and U.S. health officials continue monitoring the outbreak.
The Americans headed to Omaha will be observed at the National Quarantine Unit, managed by Nebraska Medicine and UNMC. If anyone develops symptoms, Nebraska Medicine said they can be treated safely in the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit.
The outbreak is linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship
The World Health Organization reported a cluster of hantavirus cases linked to the MV Hondius. As of May 7, WHO said eight cases had been reported, including three deaths. Five of the eight cases had been confirmed as hantavirus.
WHO identified the strain involved as Andes virus, a rare type of hantavirus that can spread from person to person in limited circumstances. That type of spread usually happens through close contact with an infected person.
WHO has assessed the risk to the global population from this event as low and said it continues to monitor the situation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said federal agencies are monitoring the situation involving U.S. travelers connected to the MV Hondius. The Department of State is leading a coordinated federal response that includes direct contact with passengers and work with domestic and international health authorities.
Omaha leaders say the city is ready to help
Omaha Mayor John Ewing Jr. said the city is prepared to support the passengers and their families.
“Omaha is proud to answer the call,” Ewing said in a statement. “This is a city with state-of-the-art medical care, a national security infrastructure and a desire to help.”
Ewing said he has full trust in UNMC and Nebraska Medicine and added that there is “little to no public health risk” in the transport and housing of the individuals headed to Omaha.
Gov. Jim Pillen also said Nebraska is working with federal, state and university partners. He said the state’s public health team is engaged in the mission and that Nebraska is prepared to support the effort.
Several Nebraska leaders pointed to UNMC’s history with infectious disease response. Nebraska Medicine and UNMC previously cared for patients during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and helped monitor some of the first Americans diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020.
UNMC scheduled a Friday afternoon briefing
Nebraska Medicine and UNMC did not say when the passengers are expected to arrive in Omaha.
UNMC scheduled a Friday afternoon press conference as officials prepared for the quarantine response. Nebraska Medicine and UNMC said their specialized teams, including the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit and the National Quarantine Unit, are staffed and ready if needed.
Health officials have said the overall risk to the general public remains low. Andes virus can spread person to person in limited circumstances, usually through close contact with an infected person, but the quarantine facilities in Omaha were designed to prevent exposure to the public.
For Omaha residents, local officials and medical leaders are emphasizing coordination, monitoring and the specialized design of the facilities on the Nebraska Medical Center and UNMC campus.
Stay informed about what’s happening in your community. Your source for stories that inspire — visit HolaNebraska.org for news, culture, and community updates across Nebraska!