CDC not requiring hantavirus cruise passengers to isolate at home

E4 Reddit (hantavirus search) · 2026-05-14 · United States · ANDV

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday that the hantavirus remains a low public health risk and while the agency is “encouraging” American passengers of the infected cruise ship to isolate at home, the absence of a formal quarantine order means these individuals can go out in public if they choose. “At this moment, I want to emphasize that the risk to the general public is low. Our top priority is both the passengers who are on the ship and American communities,” David Fitter, incident manager for the CDC’s hantavirus response said in a press briefing. As of the most recent update, the hantavirus outbreak has grown to 11 cases. Fitter said his agency has already held two briefings on Capitol Hill regarding the outbreak. “Our role now is to continue our conversations with each passenger about their potential exposure and work with partners to ensure appropriate monitoring,” he added. CDC officials further emphasized that the hantavirus is a “known virus” that has been found in the U.S. before. Given the virus’s incubation period, the CDC is maintaining a 42-day monitoring period, which they consider having begun on May 11 and set to end on June 22. Hantavirus is generally considered to not be transmissible from person-to-person, apart from the Andes virus strain that spread on the MV Hondius. Even then, person-to-person transmission requires prolonged contact with an infected person, such as among members of the same household sharing a bed, intimate partners and medical providers. When asked about individuals quarantining at home, Fitter said the CDC is currently taking a “conservative approach” that involves “encouraging” people to stay home during the monitoring period. The individuals who were taken to the University of Nebraska have also been “encouraged that they can stay in Nebraska.” During the briefing, it was noted that adherence would be hard to guarantee, and Fitter was asked about concerns over the people who are monitoring for symptoms at home. They are currently only testing people who are symptomatic. “Currently, there are no state or federal quarantine orders that have been drawn. We’re working really closely with all contacts to ensure that they understand what is expected for them to perfectly monitor themselves,” said Fitter. “We also want to make sure that they have the right information so that they can understand the situation as best as possible.” “If they need to do it somewhere else, we will work with them,” Fitter said. When pressed on whether efforts were being made to keep exposed individuals at isolated facilities, he added, “Our goal is to continue to work with them to the best possible place for them.” Citing individual privacy, CDC officials declined to say where the individuals isolating at home live or how many are currently not in a specialized facility. submitted by /u/John3262005 to r/WhatTrumpHasDone [link] [comments]

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