5 Americans exposed to hantavirus return home after weeks in quarantine

Five passengers who were repatriated to health facilities in Nebraska for quarantine after potential exposure to hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius returned to their homes late Monday, June 1, according to CNN and The Associated Press.

The passengers had been quarantining in Nebraska since leaving the ship May 10.

“These people remain symptom-free and have met the criteria established by public health officials to safely continue monitoring at home,” the CDC said Monday, according to CNN.

The U.S. government has decided to allow Americans in quarantine to return home as long as their states post a monitoroutside their homes 24/7 for the remaining three weeks of their six-week quarantine, according to a report from CNN on Friday.

Two of the people who opted to return home for the remainder of the quarantine live near New York City, city Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin told the AP.

At a news briefing in mid-May press, Dr. David Fitter, incident manager for the CDC’s hantavirus response, addressed why the department is "not using our federal quarantining authority on people" to order quarantines.

"Our approach is based on risk and evidence. We are working closely with passengers and public health partners to ensure monitoring and rapid access to care if symptoms develop," he said. He added the CDC recommends that people do not travel during the 42-day monitoring period.

No positive hantavirus cases tied to the outbreak have been reported in the United States.

In mid-May, CDC authorities confirmed that 41 people were being monitored for hantavirus exposure among three main groups:

• Eighteen cruise ship passengers who were repatriated to health facilities in Nebraska and Georgia.
• Seven passengers who had left the ship and returned home before the outbreak was identified.
• Sixteen people who may have been exposed during travel on flights where a symptomatic case was present.