Seventeen Americans returned to U.S. soil aboard a specialized medical repatriation flight after weeks trapped on a cruise ship at the center of a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has killed three passengers and infected at least eight others across 23 countries.

Biocontainment Flight Brings Americans to Nebraska

The passengers disembarked from the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius cruise ship in the Canary Islands Sunday before boarding a government-arranged medical flight to Nebraska. One American tested mildly positive for the virus during the flight, while another showed mild symptoms. Both traveled in specialized biocontainment units aboard the plane to prevent potential spread. The remaining passengers proceeded to the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center for evaluation and monitoring.

Three Dead as Outbreak Spreads Across Continents

The cruise departed southern Argentina on April 1, following an itinerary across the South Atlantic with stops at remote islands. Nearly 150 passengers from 23 countries were aboard when the outbreak began. Three have died since the crisis started. French authorities confirmed Monday that one French woman also tested positive after five French passengers returned to Paris Sunday. All infected passengers had been isolating in their cabins before repatriation efforts began.

42-Day Monitoring Period Begins

Health officials emphasized that most returning Americans appear healthy, but symptoms can take up to 42 days after exposure to manifest. The passengers will undergo clinical assessments upon arrival, though they will not be officially quarantined. Some may continue monitoring at home with daily health department check-ins. Seven other American passengers who left the cruise earlier are being monitored in Texas, California, Georgia, and Virginia.

Why This Outbreak Differs From Pandemic Threats

Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the College of Public Health at UNMC, reassured the public that this Andes variant of hantavirus has been studied for decades and poses minimal pandemic risk. Unlike COVID-19, which spread rapidly between people, this hantavirus strain requires prolonged, close contact with symptomatic individuals to transmit. Scientists have observed small clusters but never large outbreaks in 30 years of tracking this pathogen. The Nebraska facility previously handled Diamond Princess cruise passengers during the early COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.