Final Hantavirus Quarantine Lifted for Nebraska Ship Passengers

WHO:

CNN - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials confirmed the end of the quarantine.

CNN - HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard provided a statement regarding the response effort.

CNN - Angela Perryman, an American passenger, shared her experience during the quarantine.

CNN - Jake Rosmarin, another passenger, posted videos about leaving the quarantine.

WHAT:

CNN - The last eight American passengers left a specialized hospital quarantine unit after 42 days.

CNN - Three people died due to the hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship.

CNN - A total of 13 cases of hantavirus were identified among people on the ship.

CNN - The quarantine monitoring period was set because symptoms of hantavirus can take as long as 42 days to appear.

CNN - Ten other passengers were allowed to leave earlier under an agreement for home monitoring.

WHERE:

CNN - The quarantine took place at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha.

CNN - The passengers were evacuated from the MV Hondius in Spain’s Canary Islands.

CNN - The ship eventually docked in the Netherlands.

WHEN:

CNN - The quarantine ended on a Sunday at 2 PM.

CNN - Sixteen Americans were evacuated to the Nebraska quarantine unit on May 11.

WHY:

CNN - The quarantine was implemented to protect the American people and contain potential risks from the hantavirus outbreak.

HOW:

CNN - Passengers were evacuated by health officials in full protective suits.

CNN - Local Omaha restaurants and food trucks delivered meals to the quarantined passengers.

CNN - The quarantine rooms were equipped like hotel rooms with amenities to help passengers pass the time.

(UPDATED June 22, 2026 21:47 UTC)

Health officials have confirmed the end of a quarantine period for the last eight American passengers, who spent 42 days in a specialized hospital unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha due to a hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship. Tragically, three individuals lost their lives during this outbreak, which resulted in a total of 13 identified cases among those on board, prompting the quarantine to ensure the safety of the public. Passengers were evacuated in protective suits, and local restaurants provided meals, while some shared their experiences online as they prepared to leave the quarantine behind.