Why Americans from the hantavirus-stricken ship were taken to Omaha

U.S. Americans from the hantavirus-stricken cruise ship were taken to a quarantine unit in Nebraska. Here's why. By Nicole Brown Chau Nicole Brown Chau Deputy Managing Editor Nicole Brown Chau is a deputy managing editor for CBSNews.com. She writes and edits national news, health stories, explainers and more. Read Full Bio Nicole Brown Chau May 11, 2026 / 1:38 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google When Americans who were on the cruise ship hit by a hantavirus outbreak arrived back in the United States Monday, most of them were brought to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, which has multiple specialized facilities to monitor and treat people exposed to infectious diseases. Fifteen people who were on the cruise are at the National Quarantine Unit on the university's campus in Omaha, Nebraska, officials said Monday. The quarantine unit is the only federally funded facility of its kind and was first used in the early months of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic."There is no place in the country that they could be better cared for more safely and more effectively," Dr. Jeffrey Gold, president of the University of Nebraska, said Monday. Also at the medical center is the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, which is used if people in the quarantine unit develop symptoms and need treatment. One of the passengers from the ship was taken there and is doing well, officials said.Two others from the ship were taken to a biocontainment facility at Emory University in Atlanta. Here's what to know about the National Quarantine Unit and Nebraska Biocontainment Unit:Quarantine unit "more like a hotel"The quarantine unit is "designed for well individuals who need to be monitored," Angela Hewlett, the medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, said Monday.  There are 20 single-occupancy rooms in the facility. There is no intermingling and no visitors, aside from medical staff, said Michael Wadman, the medical director of National Quarantine Unit. ...