90-Second Read: Cruise passenger who arrived in Omaha has tested positive for Hantavirus

One passenger who tested positive for the virus, but does not have symptoms, was admitted to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit for follow-up testing and monitoring. American passengers from a cruise ship that experienced a Hantavirus outbreak arrived at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha early Monday morning as part of a coordinated effort to assess, contain and treat any potential infections. The passengers could be monitored in Omaha for up to 42 days. The other 15 passengers are housed at the National Quarantine Unit for assessment. The quarantine unit at UNMC is designed for individuals who need to be monitored but not necessarily treated.

WHO has identified the Hantavirus strain that impacted the cruise ship as Andes virus, which is rare and usually limited to people who have close contact with the infected person. Two other passengers from the cruise ship are being monitored at Emory University in Atlanta. UNMC was chosen as the quarantine and assessment site for passengers "due to its extensive expertise in handling special pathogens," said John Knox, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response. The biocontainment unit, on the other hand, is a hospital-based care space, Dr. Angela Hewlett, medical director of Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, said at a news conference Monday morning.

WHO currently assesses the risk to the global population from this event as low and continues to monitor the situation. The Medical Center is one of 13 Regional Emerging Special Pathogen Treatment Centers and holds the only federally funded National Quarantine Unit. The facilities at UNMC have been used in the past to quarantine COVID-19 patients as well as two doctors infected with Ebola virus in 2014. We are confident in the quality of care that these individuals will receive along with the protocols to keep healthcare workers safe. Engaging Nebraskans through television, radio, online and mobile platforms.

We do have one individual who, as you know, was taken to the biocontainment unit early this morning, and happy to report that they are doing well. Get the latest from around Nebraska delivered to your inbox Connecting Nebraska through PBS, NPR and original content since 1954.