Five US Passengers Released, Cruise Ship Cleared to Sail

Five American passengers exposed to a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship have returned to their home states to complete their mandatory quarantine, as the vessel at the center of the incident has been cleared to resume operations. The developments mark a new phase in the international response to the outbreak, which killed three people and sickened several others this spring.

The five individuals were released from the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha on Monday, June 1. They had been among 18 U.S. passengers and crew members quarantined there after potential exposure to the Andes strain of hantavirus on the cruise ship MV Hondius. All five remain asymptomatic and met criteria to complete the remainder of their 42-day monitoring period under strict supervision at home. State and local health departments will conduct daily symptom checks and maintain continuous oversight until the quarantine period ends on June 21.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the travelers returned via non-commercial flights with medical staff onboard. Upon arrival, they were transported directly to their residences...