This comes as U.S. health officials deploy to the Canary Islands as part of the response to an outbreak that has resulted in three deaths and multiple confirmed infections.
“The U.S. government's top priority is the safe repatriation of American passengers,” the agency said.
The CDC said the individuals will be evacuated on a U.S. government medical repatriation flight to Offutt Air Force Base in Omaha, Nebraska. And upon arrival, they will be transported to the National Quarantine Center at the University of Nebraska.
A CDC team will accompany the passengers to assist with their return and monitoring, the agency said.
The quarantine center receiving the passengers is part of the University of Nebraska’s Training, Simulation, and Quarantine Center, known as the TSQC.
"In November 2019, the TSQC enrolled its first students. Within two months, the COVID-19 pandemic emerged in Wuhan, China, and the TSQC activated the National Quarantine Unit (NQU) while temporarily suspending in-person training activities," the TSQC website states.
The Only Federally Funded Facility of Its Kind
University officials describe the quarantine unit as the only federally funded resource of its kind in the United States dedicated to monitoring individuals exposed to highly hazardous communicable diseases.Each quarantine room is designed for single occupancy and features its own negative-pressure system. According to the university, every room is equipped with a private bathroom, exercise equipment, and Wi-Fi.
“The NQU's all-volunteer team is comprised of highly skilled nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals who complete quarterly training in specialized infection prevention and control processes as well as participate in exercises and drills,” states the center’s website.
The M/V Hondius cruise ship outbreak has drawn international concern after officials identified the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare variant capable of limited person-to-person transmission.
Most hantaviruses spread through contact with infected rodent urine, saliva, or droppings.
Outbreak Linked to 3 Deaths
The outbreak has been linked to three deaths, including a Dutch passenger believed to be among the first infected, his wife, and a German passenger aboard the ship, according to international health authorities.The ship departed Argentina in late March and traveled through Antarctica and the South Atlantic islands before becoming stranded off Cape Verde.
The remaining passengers were reported to be isolating in their cabins as the vessel continued toward Spain’s Canary Islands.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center said the Andes virus can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a severe respiratory disease that may begin with flu-like symptoms before progressing to breathing difficulties and fluid buildup in the lungs.
“At this time, the risk to the American public remains extremely low,” the CDC said.