90-Second Read: Americans coming to Nebraska after possible Hantavirus exposure may not face mandatory quarantine

Federal officials say Americans coming to Nebraska after possible exposure to Hantavirus aboard a cruise ship will not be required to quarantine once they arrive in the United States. A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention official told ABC News Saturday that none of the 17 Americans aboard the ship have tested positive for the virus, and federal officials currently do not plan to mandate quarantine when they arrive in Nebraska. Doctors also emphasized that the Hantavirus strain involved in the outbreak is very different from COVID-19 and is not known to spread easily between people.

Officials also said testing is not recommended for passengers without symptoms. The Americans are expected to leave the cruise ship once it reaches the Canary Islands Sunday before being flown back to the United States. Federal officials have said the passengers are expected to arrive at Offutt Air Force Base before heading to Omaha for evaluation and monitoring.

Officials said the facility has 20 individual rooms and trained volunteer staff prepared to respond if needed. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.