90-Second Read: 2 more cruise ship passengers leave Omaha quarantine after deadly Hantavirus outbreak

UNMC said that six passengers now remain at the quarantine unit of the 18 who arrived in Omaha on May 11, diverted from the affected MV Hondius ship. However, symptoms of Hantavirus can take up to 42 days to appear, a UNMC statement said, so all passengers were "strongly encouraged" to complete that longer period and stay through June 21. The World Health Organization reported in late May that a total of 11 confirmed cases, including three deaths, had been linked to the Andes Hantavirus strain outbreak on the cruise ship. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention requested that passengers remain at the NQU through May 31.

UNMC said the federal CDC has been coordinating with impacted states on requirements for the passengers to self-monitor in their homes. National news outlets earlier interviewed passengers returning to their home states. Some chafed at being forced to quarantine states away from loved ones and work after spending more than a month aboard a Dutch cruise line that stopped in parts of South America and Antarctica. Engaging Nebraskans through television, radio, online and mobile platforms.

Those who left earlier did not travel commercially, according to the statement, which said that appropriate biocontainment measures were in place during their transport. Travel was coordinated through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response and respective local health departments. UNMC/Nebraska Medicine is one of 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers within the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response National Special Pathogen System. Get the latest from around Nebraska delivered to your inbox Connecting Nebraska through PBS, NPR and original content since 1954.