90-Second Read: Hantavirus cruise passeners in biocontainment. What does that mean?

Passengers from a cruise ship where a Hantavirus outbreak occurred have been flown to a quarantine and biocontainment facility in Nebraska. The two passengers who flew in biocontainment include one who tested positive for the Andes Hantavirus and one who has been showing symptoms. Passengers will be observed in quarantine units and those who develop symptoms will be treated in biocontainment, which is designed to protect staff and prevent the spread of Hantavirus.

The facility at the University of Nebraska consists of a National Quarantine Unit and biocontainment units. It features negative-pressure rooms designed to prevent the spread of dangerous illness, with biocontainment rooms designed for medical staff to treat patients who require care. Passengers will have access to wi-fi and video calling.

However, passenters will have the option of continuing the 42-day monitoring period at home, depending on individual factors. The monitoring period is based on the longest known incubation period for Andes Hantavirus: 42 days. Sixteen passenters were flown to the University of Nebraska's quarantine facility for evaluation and questioning to help determine exposure or how they may have contracted the virus.