# UNMC wraps hantavirus quarantine as Ebola threat looms **Published:** 2026-06-23T21:07:10.000Z **Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/23/unmc-hantavirus-operation-wraps-up-team-ready-if-ebola-outbreak-calls/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/unmc-wraps-hantavirus-quarantine-as-ebola-threat-looms The [National Quarantine Unit at University of Nebraska Medical Center closed its hantavirus operation Tuesday](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/23/unmc-hantavirus-operation-wraps-up-team-ready-if-ebola-outbreak-calls/) after six weeks of monitoring 18 American cruise ship passengers exposed to a deadly virus, with all departing in good health and federal officials praising the facility's readiness for potential future disease threats. The last six passengers cleared out Sunday after completing a 42-day monitoring period, marking the successful conclusion of an operation that Gov. Jim Pillen called "the greatest outcome we could have ever asked for." University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold said all guests departed in "top shape." [The passengers arrived in May after disembarking the MV Hondius cruise ship](https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2026/cdc-provides-update-on-hantavirus-outbreak-linked-to-m-v-hondius-cruise-ship.html), where an outbreak of hantavirus — caused by the Andes virus strain capable of human-to-human transmission — killed three people, two aboard the vessel and one in South Africa. No cases have been confirmed in the United States. Dr. Michael Wadman, medical director of the quarantine unit, said passengers provided valuable feedback that will improve future operations. Notable improvements include daily town halls where those in isolation could voice concerns and learn about tactical operations, addressing the psychological toll of prolonged confinement. "Every time we activate we get a little better," Wadman said. The only federally funded quarantine unit of its kind in the country, the facility features 20 negative-pressure rooms designed to safely house and observe people exposed to high-consequence infectious diseases. With [an Ebola outbreak rapidly spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda](https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/ebola-outbreak---drc-2026), federal officials and Nebraska medical leaders are now preparing for a possible influx of patients. [As of June 21, the DRC has reported over 1,000 confirmed cases and nearly 270 deaths](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/ebola-outbreak-democratic-republic-congo-and-uganda), making it the deadliest outbreak in the region's history. Angie Vasa, director of biopreparedness and special pathogen programs for Nebraska Medicine, said local officials have not formally been asked to accept Ebola patients but teams are prepared to respond. University of Nebraska officials are already discussing with federal partners, including the Departments of War and Health and Human Services, whether to include additional quarantine space in the planned $2.19 billion [Project Health](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/10/03/2-19-billion-project-health-takes-key-leap-forward-with-nu-vote/) facility. "Those conversations are ongoing right now, perhaps even more acutely precipitated not only by the hantavirus experience but also by what's going on in western Africa right now," Gold said, noting the Ebola outbreak should be "on all of our radars given the rapidly expanding numbers." During the hantavirus quarantine, Nebraskans provided emotional support through gift baskets, letters from schoolchildren, Runzas, and grilled Omaha steaks in the parking lot. Passengers reciprocated by sharing recipes and book recommendations with caregivers, fostering what Wadman called "lots of great examples of people working together." However, the operation was not without controversy. The [New York Times reported on complaints from one passenger](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/us/hantavirus-quarantine-end.html) who said she was forced to remain longer than desired despite CDC medical review approving her departure to Florida. Her attorneys were considering litigation over the extended quarantine order signed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The quarantine and Nebraska Biocontainment Unit have been activated twice before, in 2014 to treat American Ebola patients and in 2020 to care for early COVID-19 cases evacuated from China and the Diamond Princess cruise ship. ## Sources - [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/23/unmc-hantavirus-operation-wraps-up-team-ready-if-ebola-outbreak-calls/) - [CDC - CDC Provides Update on Hantavirus Outbreak Linked to M/V Hondius Cruise Ship](https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2026/cdc-provides-update-on-hantavirus-outbreak-linked-to-m-v-hondius-cruise-ship.html) - [WHO - Ebola outbreak - DRC 2026](https://www.who.int/emergencies/situations/ebola-outbreak---drc-2026) - [ECDC - Ebola disease outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/ebola-outbreak-democratic-republic-congo-and-uganda) - [Nebraska Examiner - 2.19 billion Project Health takes key leap forward with NU vote](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/10/03/2-19-billion-project-health-takes-key-leap-forward-with-nu-vote/) - [The New York Times - American Passenger Blocked From Leaving Federal Hantavirus Quarantine](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/us/hantavirus-quarantine-end.html) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/23/unmc-hantavirus-operation-wraps-up-team-ready-if-ebola-outbreak-calls/.