CDC quarantine orders issued for two cruise ship passengers in Nebraska hospital monitoring

US health officials said on Tuesday that two passengers linked to a cruise ship hantavirus outbreak received federal quarantine orders. The passengers were being treated at a hospital in Nebraska. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the orders were signed by acting director Dr Jay Bhattacharya. Such orders can carry fines or prison terms.

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The CDC said all 18 passengers at the Nebraska hospital were asked to remain there through May 31. Officials described this period as part of ongoing health monitoring. Quarantine orders are not common in the US. They can be used when someone resists a public health request, according to the CDC statement.

Hantavirus outbreak monitoring for cruise ship passengers

On a call with reporters, the CDC’s Dr David Fitter said there were no hantavirus cases among the returned US passengers. Health experts noted that symptoms may appear late in some outbreaks. This time gap has shaped the length of monitoring for people linked to the cruise, including those at the Nebraska facility.

Jodie Guest, senior vice chair of epidemiology at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health, said past outbreaks showed delays. "Im certain that 42 days is starting to feel very long for those who are in quarantine, but the incubation period is what is setting that time period,\" she said. Guest said symptoms have taken as long as 42 days to emerge.

Hantavirus outbreak updates and reported cases linked to cruise ship

The CDC said three more hantavirus cases were found after passengers left the ship. The additional cases were reported in France, Spain and Canada, with one case in each country. The World Health Organisation said last Wednesday that 11 cases tied to the cruise were reported. The WHO figure included three deaths.

According to the WHO, eight of the 11 reported cases were confirmed by laboratory tests. Public health officials said the risk to the general public from the cruise ship outbreak remained low. Officials continued to track possible infections because of the long time symptoms can take to appear.

Hantavirus outbreak causes and Andes virus transmission risk

Hantaviruses usually spread when people breathe in particles from rodent droppings. These particles can contaminate dust in areas where rodents have been. Officials said the outbreak involved the Andes virus. This type may rarely spread from person to person, which can affect response plans.

The CDC continued monitoring passengers linked to the cruise, including those in Nebraska until May 31. Officials said the legal quarantine orders were a rare tool for enforcing health steps. The agency also noted international case reports and WHO totals. Health officials repeated that risk to the wider public stayed low.

With inputs from PTI