Five cruise ship passengers complete Andes virus quarantine; 13 remain under observation in Nebraska

Five American cruise ship passengers exposed to Andes virus during an outbreak aboard the MV Hondius in the South Atlantic Ocean have been cleared to leave a quarantine facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center after remaining symptom-free. The two-week observation period met safety criteria for home-based completion of the recommended 42-day quarantine. One remaining passenger, Jake Rosmarin, opted to stay for additional monitoring, citing trauma and caution against potential family/public exposure. The outbreak has generated 13 confirmed or probable cases with three deaths globally; no cases have been confirmed in the U.S. Federal officials arranged secure, non-commercial travel for departing passengers with biocontainment measures. State health departments will maintain daily symptom monitoring and 24/7 oversight. The Andes virus strain differs from typical hantaviruses by potentially spreading between humans in rare circumstances.