U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ordered an American passenger exposed to hantavirus on a cruise ship to remain in quarantine, overriding medical advice and the passenger’s wishes, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.<\/p>\n
The passenger, identified as 47-year-old Angela Perryman, was among 18 Americans who were placed in quarantine in the U.S. earlier this year after cases of Andes hantavirus were detected aboard a cruise ship. Initially, this group was housed at a quarantine unit in Nebraska.<\/p>\n
An official from the Department of Health and Human Services stated that the 42-day monitoring period was set to conclude at midnight on June 21. The official indicated that the remaining passengers at the quarantine unit were scheduled to depart Nebraska on June 22. This 42-day period commenced following their return to the United States on May 10.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, the University of Nebraska Medical Center reported that eight U.S. residents who had been on the cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by hantavirus, returned to their home states after three weeks of monitoring at the National Quarantine Unit. Ten other individuals remained under observation.<\/p>\n
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had previously requested that these individuals from the cruise ship stay at the quarantine unit through May 31. The New York Times recently reported that some passengers were permitted to quarantine at home until June 22, provided that local health officials committed to having a law enforcement or community health worker monitor them.<\/p>\n
Courtney Spencer, an HHS spokesperson, told Reuters that Secretary Kennedy specifically considered the medical recommendation before deciding to continue the current order. Spencer added that in the absence of proper home monitoring by state authorities, the administration’s quarantine order is deemed necessary to safeguard both Ms. Perryman’s well-being and that of her community.<\/p>\n
Perryman, however, expressed her belief to The Wall Street Journal that Kennedy’s order constitutes retaliation for her speaking out against the quarantine measures. She also told The Times that she felt the action was “obvious malice and retaliation.”<\/p>\n
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 42-day monitoring and quarantine period for individuals with high-risk exposure to hantavirus. Perryman had wished to return to her home in Florida, but reports indicate the state declined to provide the necessary monitoring.<\/p>\n
The New York Times also reported that during a quarantine hearing, the CDC suggested she should be allowed to return home for the remainder of her quarantine period. The Wall Street Journal noted that a CDC medical review indicated her chances of developing symptoms were decreasing over time.<\/p>\n
Perryman informed both The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times that a copy of an order from Kennedy was delivered to her room, informing her that she would not be permitted to return home. According to The Journal, Kennedy’s order stated that despite the doctor’s report, there was a reasonable belief that Perryman was infected with or exposed to the disease.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has ordered an American passenger exposed to hantavirus on a cruise ship to remain in quarantine against her will, despite medical advice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2097,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[1900,1899,1729,1903,2142],"yoast_head":"\n