State, federal and university leaders addressed the media on May 22 to speak about ongoing efforts at the National Quarantine Unit.
The NQU, on the campus of the University of Nebraska Medical Center, currently is hosting 18 Americans who arrived earlier this month, after a hantavirus outbreak struck the ship MV Hondius.
Gov. Jim Pillen thanked the staff of the National Quarantine Unit, as well as everyone in the Nebraska Medicine and UNMC community, for their efforts.
“This facility is incredible, but it’s the people who make it, and they are doing extraordinary work to take care of our guests,” he said. He also thanked local, state and federal partners for the alignment and communication taking place in the effort.
University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, hosted the event, which also included Captain Michael Garner, Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) regional administrator, Region VII, mission field operations lead; Peter Cassell, ASPR press officer; Michael Wadman, MD, medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit; and Ashley Newmyer, director of the Nebraska Division of Public Health.
See photos from Friday’s press conference in this Flickr photo album.
Watch the press conference on the Nebraska Medicine Facebook page.
Dr. Wadman said care staff is working with the guests to ensure their continued health and to offer options to deal with the stress of isolation.
He also spoke of the reaction to the tornado warning earlier in the week, which he called “almost routine” because of the staff’s extensive training.
“Our guests are not from Nebraska, and not many from the Midwest, so that was a unique experience for most of them,” he said.
Dr. Wadman said his team was gathering feedback from the guests to make them as comfortable as they can, encouraging guests to be physically and mentally active. Following a Zoom tai chi class that was held last week, there are other activities planned, including a presentation on Sandhill cranes, and switching up meals to provide options like Omaha Steaks and Runza.
Dr. Gold said the medical center professional team not only understands the medical monitoring and safety needs, but appreciates the stress facing the guests from being away from home, “but there is no question that this is the best and safest place for them to be.”
Gov. Pillen also assured Nebraskans that when the guests leave, the travel will be done in a secure way. “This process is a total partnership, from all of our federal, state and local partners, along with everyone here at the medical center. I could not be more proud to be the governor of Nebraska or more proud of our fellow Nebraskans.”