Americans Face Unprecedented 24/7 Monitoring After Deadly Cruise Ship Virus Outbreak

Rare Virus Forces Extraordinary Quarantine Measures

American passengers exposed to a deadly strain of hantavirus aboard a cruise ship may soon return home, but only under an unprecedented requirement: a monitor must be posted outside their homes 24/7 for the remaining three weeks of their six-week quarantine . Americans exposed to a rare strain of hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship say they're facing an unusual requirement as the federal government says states must post a full-time monitor outside their homes for the final weeks of quarantine .

The monitoring could involve a police officer or a public health worker, according to two of the passengers now in quarantine in Nebraska . The 18 Americans, who disembarked May 10 in the Canary Islands have been quarantined at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center . Originally, officials had previously said that the passengers would be allow to complete their quarantines at home .

New York has initially refused to allow passengers who live there to return home under the new monitoring requirements , creating additional frustration for those affected. One passenger expressed their anger, stating "This is not acceptable. We're not f**king criminals" .

Deadly Outbreak Sparks Global Response

The extraordinary measures stem from an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship. Health officials confirmed 13 cases and three deaths were linked to the outbreak . The Andes virus is the only known hantavirus to spread between humans , making this situation particularly concerning for health authorities.

The average age of passengers on board the ship was 65 years old , a demographic particularly vulnerable to severe outcomes. Andes virus outbreaks are associated with high case fatality rates of 20 to 40 percent, reaching 40-50%, particularly among elderly individuals and those with co-morbidities . The virus causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome – a severe illness affecting the heart and lungs with an incubation period of one to seven weeks .

The cruise had traveled to some of the most remote locations on Earth, including mainland Antarctica, the Falklands, South Georgia, Nightingale Island, Tristan, St. Helena, Ascension, and Cape Verde . A microbiologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai estimated that there have been about 3,000 cases of the Andes strain of the virus in history .

States Push Back Against Monitoring Requirements

The round-the-clock surveillance requirement has drawn criticism from both passengers and state officials. States are also concerned that posting a full-time guard outside someone's house will cause unwarranted fear in their community . Infectious disease experts said this plan was overkill because health departments already keep tabs on patients with infectious diseases such as tuberculosis using less onerous methods .

Health experts argue the extensive monitoring may be unnecessary. Andes hantavirus seems to be most contagious right around the time patients begin to develop symptoms, and the Americans under monitoring show no signs of illness. "The risk to the public is so low in this instance" , according to one official quoted in reports.

The window for transmission of the Andes virus is short, maybe about a day, but it can spread easily after someone is in only brief proximity to the person who is sick. Peak infectiousness is believed to be on the day a fever begins .

Looking Ahead

The situation represents an unprecedented challenge for public health authorities managing a rare but deadly pathogen. It can take up to six weeks for a person who's been exposed to the virus to show symptoms, which is why the World Health Organization has recommended that the passengers remain in quarantine for 42 days after they return to their home countries .

The UK Health Security Agency is planning a study to learn more about Andes virus based on the cruise ship outbreak , as there is little evidence about how hantavirus is transmitted because outbreaks are rare and mostly limited to Latin America. The Andes strain is the only one which can spread person-to-person, and little is known about it; no vaccine is available .

As negotiations continue between federal authorities and states, the affected passengers remain caught between public health precautions and their desire to return to normal life after an already traumatic experience.