Health Security

Air Force’s C-STARS Omaha unit supports hantavirus response

The Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills is part of the U.S. Air Force’s School of Aerospace Medicine and the 711th Human Performance Wing.

Jun 26, 2026

A medical professional from the Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (C-STARS) Omaha, in full personal protective equipment, mops the floor while another team member tends to a simulated patient at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, June 14, 2024. (Screengrab taken from U.S. Air Force video by Ryan Law)

UNMC, Nebraska Medicine mark milestone as quarantine operation ends

The June 23 news conference highlighted the successful monitoring of MV Hondius passengers following a hantavirus exposure.

Jun 24, 2026

Michael Wadman, MD, National Quarantine Unit medical director, speaks at a press conference held Tuesday, June 23, at the Davis Global Center, to discuss the conclusion of the activation of the National Quarantine Unit for cruise passengers exposed to the hantavirus. Speakers also included, from left, Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, president of the University of Nebraska, Gov. Jim Pillen and Angela Vasa, director of emergency preparedness and special pathogens programs at Nebraska Medicine.

Leaders update efforts at National Quarantine Unit

Speaking at a press conference about the 18 Americans, NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said: ‘This is the best and safest place for them to be.’

May 26, 2026

Gov. Jim Pillen spoke at Friday's press conference to give update on the guests in the National Quarantine Unit at UNMC, along with NU President Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, at left, and Michael Wadman, MD, medical director of the National Quarantine Unit.

Two additional MV Hondius passengers arrive at National Quarantine Unit

Eighteen individuals are now undergoing monitoring and assessment in Omaha.

May 15, 2026

Night shot of the Dr. Edwin G. & Dorothy Balbach Davis Global Center

16 U.S. citizens safely repatriated to UNMC, Nebraska Medicine

UNMC and Nebraska Medicine’s world-class experts and facilities step forward once again, this time to face the Hantavirus threat.

May 11, 2026

Michael Wadman, MD, medical director of the National Quarantine Unit speaks at a press conference that was held Monday, May 11, 2026, at the Davis Global Center to give an update on the 16 passengers from the Hondius cruise ship who were moved to the quarantine and biocontainment units at UNMC.

A message from Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD

Dr. Davies sent this message to UNMC faculty, staff and students Monday evening to update Nebraska’s response to hantavirus.

May 11, 2026

Interim Chancellor H. Dele Davies, MD

UNMC designated as a WHO Collaborating Center

The prestigious distinction places UNMC among a select group of institutions helping shape the world’s response to emerging health threats.

May 11, 2026

Lauren Sauer, PhD, and Jocelyn Herstein, PhD

Cruise ship passengers arrive at National Quarantine Unit 

The Nebraska Biocontainment Unit has been activated, as one of the U.S. citizens who were aboard a cruise ship associated with a hantavirus outbreak tested positive. 

May 11, 2026

Shuttles carrying the MV Hondius passengers en route to the National Quarantine Unit at UNMC.

Nebraska Medicine/UNMC asked to monitor U.S. citizens from cruise ship hantavirus outbreak

The National Quarantine Unit, located at UNMC, is the only federally funded quarantine unit in the United States.

May 10, 2026

UNMC sign in front of the Michael F. Sorrell Center for Health Science Education, with the 42nd Street skywalk and Wittson Hall behind.

Regents approve air transport training facility at UNMC

The facility would extend programs offered by the US Air Force’s C-STARS Omaha Unit stationed at UNMC.

Apr 27, 2026

Image rendering of the IDAT facility. Courtesy Leo A Daly.