Eighteen passengers from a cruise ship, quarantined due to potential hantavirus exposure, might be released soon from the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. However, federal officials require their state governments to ensure continuous monitoring for another three weeks. This request surpasses usual protocols for managing virus outbreaks.
According to passengers and federal directives, continuous supervision is a condition for release. Lawyers say this requirement could delay the departure of some individuals, particularly two from New York residing in Nebraska. These passengers could be forced to remain if state agreements aren’t met.
Steven Hyman, representing two New York passengers, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seems to want local authorities to enforce these monitoring measures. Without this, his clients could face the complete 42-day incubation period isolated in Nebraska.
The CDC and New York State Health Department have not commented on these conditions. One passenger reportedly intends to relocate to Florida upon release. All passengers have been under observation since being brought back from the Canary Islands on May 11, showing no symptoms of the disease.
During a discussion on Wednesday, the CDC initially suggested law enforcement presence at passengers’ homes post-release. This was later amended to health worker supervision after concerns about financial and legal implications were raised by states.
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