health
Hantavirus quarantine ends for Americans held for six weeks in Nebraska
The US health department said the enforced 42-day quarantine was necessary to protect the public
TL;DR
- Eight Americans, quarantined for six weeks in Nebraska, have been released after exposure to the hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship.
- The US health and human services department (HHS) maintained the enforced 42-day quarantine was necessary for public good.
- One passenger, Angela Perryman, accused the government of detaining her against her wishes and called it a 'political stunt'.
- Health law experts criticized the detention, calling it 'arbitrary,' 'capricious,' and 'unjust,' and potentially setting a dangerous precedent.
- Three people died and 13 cases of the Andes strain of hantavirus were identified on the cruise ship, leading to 18 Americans initially being transferred to quarantine.
- None of the Americans quarantined in Nebraska were reported to have contracted the disease.