Hantavirus update as of 2pm PST May 8:

Count is still 3 deaths and 5 more infected. Dozens of people across a dozen countries are being monitored, including in the United States. What is happening with the cruise ship? We now have some answers (and some relief for those on board.) 

The ship should arrive at the islands of Spain on Saturday. They will not physically dock at port, but instead anchor offshore near Tenerife. Passengers will be brought to land by small boats once evacuation flights are ready and waiting on the tarmac. 

The goal is to minimize the amount of time potentially exposed passengers spend mixing with the public. Spanish officials are creating a tightly controlled transfer system. This has been done before and it’s highly successful. 

Spanish citizens on board have agreed to a voluntary 7-day quarantine. Passengers from other countries are expected to be flown home, where local health authorities will continue monitoring them during the incubation period.

What’s the plan for the Americans on board? 

CDC will escort the American passengers back to the US aboard a charter flight to a quarantine facility in Nebraska. They are expected to arrive late Sunday or early Monday. As of right now, they will be assessed at the facility and then sent home (on a charter flight) to finish their quarantine.

Importantly, none of the remaining passengers or crew are currently symptomatic. That’s great news, and I hope it stays this way. But because symptoms can take 45 days to develop, officials are assuming additional cases are still possible. Passengers will be monitored daily by the States. 

Bottom line: This is a serious outbreak, but the virus is behaving as expected, cases are being monitored, and there’s no evidence this has turned into a Covid-like airborne event. If anything happens over the weekend, I'll be back Monday with the breakdown.