Americans from virus-hit ship will not necessarily be quarantined: official

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Washington DC: A top US health official announced Sunday that American passengers evacuated from a virus-hit cruise ship will not necessarily face mandatory quarantine.

Acting CDC Director Jay Bhattacharya urged the public to remain calm regarding the deadly hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, emphasizing, "This is not Covid".

Seventeen asymptomatic Americans were repatriated from the ship in the Canary Islands to a specialized facility in Nebraska. While one passenger who tested positive is heading to a biocontainment unit, others will be assessed for risk and monitored.

Officials noted that people are generally only contagious when exhibiting symptoms. Depending on their risk level, passengers may eventually be allowed to return home under observation. Bhattacharya defended the response, noting that the protocol mirrors a successfully contained 2018 outbreak of the same strain.

Photo credits: AFP