Americans from hantavirus-hit cruise brought to Omaha

Added: 2026-05-17

[00:00:00]After days of concern over a hantavirus outbreak on board a cruise ship, 17 Americans and one British national are now back on US soil. Most arrived in Omaha today, home to a specialized quarantine unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Officials say one American who tested positive for hantavirus is now being treated in a biocontainment unit, while 15 others are being quarantined and being monitored for symptoms. Health leaders, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and President Trump, say the risk to the general public remains very low and that there's no sign this virus has mutated.

[00:00:36]A couple from the ship are also being treated at Emory University in Atlanta with one person showing symptoms at this point. The ship at the center of the outbreak has been dealing with what its captain called an extremely challenging few weeks. For now, officials say the focus is on monitoring passengers closely and making sure the virus doesn't spread any further.