Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center have been asked by federal partners to receive and monitor U.S. citizens from the cruise ship associated with a hantavirus outbreak. These individuals will be observed in the National Quarantine Unit, located on the campus of Nebraska Medical Center and UNMC. Nebraska Medicine and UNMC are working closely with the Douglas County Health Department, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and federal health partners to coordinate the effort.
The National Quarantine Unit is the only federally funded quarantine unit in the United States, designed specifically to safely house and monitor people who may have been exposed to high-consequence infectious diseases.
“We are prepared for situations exactly like this,” said Michael Ash, MD, CEO of Nebraska Medicine. “Our teams have trained for decades alongside federal and state partners to make sure we can safely provide care while protecting our staff and the broader community. We are proud to support this national effort.”
At this time, the individuals being monitored are well with no symptoms of illness. The quarantine process allows for careful observation during the incubation period of the virus while eliminating any potential risk of spread.
“This request reflects the longstanding partnership between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and federal health agencies, as well as the trust placed in our teams,” said H. Dele Davies, MD, interim chancellor of UNMC. “For decades, we have invested in the people, facilities and training needed to respond to emerging infectious diseases, and we stand ready to support this effort while continuing to prioritize safety.”
Nebraska Medical Center also is home to the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, a highly specialized facility designed to care for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases. Should anyone develop symptoms, they can be safely treated in this unit.
“Our role is to provide a controlled, safe environment where people can be monitored and, if needed, cared for using the highest safety standards,” said John Lowe, PhD, director of the Global Center for Health Security. “We work closely with national partners to ensure every step, from transport, to monitoring, to potential treatment, is handled with precision and care.”
The World Health Organization has identified the hantavirus strain that impacted the cruise ship as Andes virus, which is rare, but can be transmitted from person to person. This spread is usually limited to people who have close contact with the infected person. WHO currently assesses the risk to the global population from this event as low and continues to monitor the situation.
Nebraska Medicine and UNMC have a long history of responding to global infectious disease threats. The organization safely treated patients during the 2014 Ebola outbreak and cared for some of the first Americans diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020.
“We understand situations like this can raise questions,” Dr. Ash said. “People should know these facilities were specifically designed to prevent exposure to the public. There is no risk to the community from people being cared for in these units.”
“Nebraska has a proud tradition of stepping up for our fellow Americans in moments of need, and we are fully committed to support our federal, state and local partners in this mission,” Governor Jim Pillen said. “Nebraska is the world leader in dealing with infectious disease, our professionals in this field at the State and at the University of Nebraska Medical Center will ensure the safe quarantine of these Americans. Our state public health team is fully engaged with our federal and University partners, and my office is in constant touch with President Trump, Secretary Kennedy and their teams.”
“We are honored to once more serve fellow Americans with the world class resources of UNMC and Nebraska Medicine,” said Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, president of the University of Nebraska. “Our extensive experience with high consequence infectious diseases over the past decade is the foundation of confidence in our willingness to once more provide these critical services to the nation.”
Nebraska Medicine will continue to coordinate with federal, state and local public health partners and will provide updates as appropriate.
About the National Quarantine Unit
The NQU inside the Dr. Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center, is the only federally funded resource of its kind. It is specifically designed to provide first-class quarantine and isolation care to individuals exposed to highly hazardous communicable diseases. Its 20 rooms employ individual negative air pressure systems, are single occupancy with en suite bathroom facilities and contain exercise equipment and Wifi connectivity for patients requiring longer stays.
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. They are committed to maintaining the advanced skills necessary for attending to the unique needs of individuals requiring monitoring.
About the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit
The Nebraska Biocontainment Unit was dedicated in 2005. The NBU is a collaborative project involving Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In addition to providing medical care for patients with high consequence infectious diseases, the unit has active research and outreach training programs for the region and nation. It is funded by HHS ASPR and is a Level 1 Special Pathogen Treatment Center which undergoes annual readiness assessments. Unit personnel consist of a voluntary staff of select physicians, nursing, nursing assistants and respiratory therapists specially trained in high-level isolation and bio preparedness.
The NBU was activated in the fall of 2014 to receive U.S. citizens with Ebola virus disease medically evacuated from Africa. The outstanding staff received numerous awards for its courageous and extraordinary level of care including recognition from the White House, the Nebraska Legislature and the University of Nebraska Board of Regents. In addition, they were honored as “Midlanders of the Year” by the Omaha World-Herald. In 2020, the NBU and NQU were again activated for the care and management of U.S. citizens from Wuhan, China, and the Diamond Princess Cruise ship for COVID-19.
Visit our Hantavirus Information page for the latest updates, monitoring information, FAQs and guidance from Nebraska Medicine and UNMC experts.