OMAHA, Neb. — Eighteen American travelers who encountered hantavirus exposure aboard the MV Hondius cruise vessel are experiencing warm Nebraska welcome while awaiting word on their quarantine duration at an Omaha medical facility.
Meanwhile, health authorities confirmed a 12th case tied to the vessel on Friday in the Netherlands, as officials continue tracking hundreds of potentially exposed individuals.
Speaking at Friday’s press briefing, the physician overseeing the National Quarantine Unit monitoring the American travelers reported none are displaying symptoms currently. However, Dr. Michael Wadman directed inquiries about whether these 18 individuals must complete the entire 42-day isolation period at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s specialized facility to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC remained silent Friday regarding plans for these travelers, who occupy accommodations resembling hotel suites equipped with personal exercise equipment and compact refrigerators. These quarters feature specialized negative-pressure air systems and waste sterilization technology to prevent germ transmission.
Hantavirus typically spreads through rodent waste and rarely passes between humans. However, the Andes strain identified in this cruise outbreak may occasionally transmit person-to-person. Symptoms typically emerge one to eight weeks following exposure. Officials recommended extended quarantine due to the virus’s incubation timeline.
Wadman explained that upon learning their extended stay duration, travelers began purchasing necessities since health authorities permitted only small plastic bags of personal items when departing the MV Hondius. With luggage left behind, delivery packages began flowing to the quarantine facility after passengers reached Omaha on May 11.
Between twice-daily health screenings, staff at the country’s sole dedicated quarantine facility work to help passengers occupy their time through special dining experiences featuring local food establishments and unique Nebraska specialties like Runzas, plus educational sessions about sandhill crane migrations that draw millions of these magnificent birds statewide each spring.
The quarters include high-speed internet access enabling virtual connections with loved ones. Jake Rosmarin acknowledged occasional loneliness being distant from his fiance in Boston, but says time passes quickly through family calls and creating content for his Facebook and Instagram travel channels. Rosmarin maintains optimism rather than dwelling on nearly another month remaining in isolation.
“Why am I going to harp on those negative aspects? The time’s just gonna go by slow if I kind of harp on the negatives,” he said.
Rosmarin expressed deep gratitude for nurses and physicians from the medical center and neighboring Nebraska Medicine hospital who volunteer at the quarantine facility, starting with deliveries of his preferred Starbucks iced horchata with oat milk and vanilla cold foam.
“They’ve just been amazing. Truly. Truly, truly, truly. I think they’ve gone above and beyond with making sure that we’re comfortable here,” said Rosmarin, who purchased a new mattress topper and pillows plus Mixtiles photos of himself and his fiance for wall decoration to create a homier atmosphere.
Rosmarin and several other passengers unexpectedly left their rooms briefly Sunday evening during a tornado warning for Omaha, maintaining masks and distance while medical personnel wore complete protective gear.
Hospital officials plan serving passengers Runza on Tuesday and Omaha Steaks Thursday next week. Rosmarin ordered a barbecue bacon Runza, combining meat, seasonings and sauce baked within bread. This fast-food chain known for these sandwiches operates almost exclusively statewide, though similar meals elsewhere might be called bierocks.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, who operates a large hog operation, mentioned at Friday’s briefing his hopes to arrange a pork tenderloin meal, provided hospital chefs prepare it properly.
Wadman noted quarantined passengers remain cooperative despite the CDC issuing formal orders this week preventing two from departing the facility.
“I think there’s many that would really like to be home,” Wadman said, though CDC approval before the 42-day period remains unclear. Individual cases will receive separate evaluation.
Twelve individuals worldwide from the MV Hondius have become ill, including one crew member confirmed Friday in the Netherlands. Three cruise passengers died, including a Dutch couple health officials believe were initially exposed while touring South America. No fatalities have occurred since May 2, according to World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“We continue to urge affected countries to monitor all passengers and crew carefully for the remainder of the quarantine period. More than 600 contacts continue to be followed in 30 countries, and a small number of high risk contacts are still being located,” he said.
University of Nebraska President Jeffrey Gold stated new cases will influence public health officials’ quarantine duration decisions, though the CDC controls that timeline.
“Any case, any symptoms, any positive test anywhere gives us more information about the biology of this viral illness. And it as any good scientific approach would be, it influences our decision making,” Gold said.
