Medical officials will give option for exposed passenger to go home, requirements they need to meet

Medical officials said they want to provide the “least restrictive" care possible to the passengers who were exposed to the Hantavirus on the cruise ship.

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Officials said the passengers will have the option to leave the National Quarantine Unit and finish their incubation back in their home state.The federal, state and local medical partners at the Monday news conference said they want to provide the “least restrictive” care possible to the passengers who were exposed to the Hantavirus on the cruise ship.MORE COVERAGE: Hantavirus-positive cruise ship passenger has no symptoms after arriving in Omaha, officials sayBut they still have checks they need to meet before they’re allowed to go home.“Passengers will undergo an initial health assessment and receive guidance on next steps from the CDC, experts and other partners,” John Knox, principal deputy assistant secretary for HHS Preparedness and Response, said.The 16 American passengers touched down in Omaha early Monday morning.Dr. Brendan Jackson with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 15 of them will undergo a 42-day incubation period in the National Quarantine Unit — the area where non-symptomatic people are held.“There’s going to be an individualized decision plan for them,” Jackson said. “Determine if it makes more sense for them to complete their 42-day monitoring period at home.”Watch: Nebraska officials give update after passengers exposed to hantavirus arrive in OmahaJackson said if they remain symptom-free, medical professionals will go over the necessary requirements they need to have at home before they can leave.“Making sure that they can be able to isolate in a separate part of structure from anybody else,” Jackson said. “Make sure that they can contact their health department, get tested, if necessary, if they develop symptoms, or if they need a higher level of medical care that’s available to them.”At this point, it’s unclear how these practices will be upheld, but officials did say there are several boxes that need to be checked before anyone takes a flight home.“We are here also to make sure that there’s a structure in place,” Dr. Ashley Newmyer, DHHS director of Public Health, said. “To make sure that no one poses a public health threat.”The National Quarantine Unit’s medical director said this facility would be the best place to stay regardless.“If I was exposed to this and I had the option to stay in a quarantine unit proximate to that care, I would definitely take that because you’re putting yourself in the position, if you were to turn positive, that you’d be in a position to take advantage of all those things,” Dr. Michael Wadman said. “That’s going to give you the best chance of survival.”Officials did not spell out how the exposed passengers will be safely transported back to their home states, but they did say they will be escorted under “appropriate circumstances” from the time they step out of the facility until they return to their homes.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

OMAHA, Neb. —

Officials said the passengers will have the option to leave the National Quarantine Unit and finish their incubation back in their home state.

The federal, state and local medical partners at the Monday news conference said they want to provide the “least restrictive” care possible to the passengers who were exposed to the Hantavirus on the cruise ship.

MORE COVERAGE: Hantavirus-positive cruise ship passenger has no symptoms after arriving in Omaha, officials say

But they still have checks they need to meet before they’re allowed to go home.

“Passengers will undergo an initial health assessment and receive guidance on next steps from the CDC, experts and other partners,” John Knox, principal deputy assistant secretary for HHS Preparedness and Response, said.

The 16 American passengers touched down in Omaha early Monday morning.

Dr. Brendan Jackson with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 15 of them will undergo a 42-day incubation period in the National Quarantine Unit — the area where non-symptomatic people are held.

“There’s going to be an individualized decision plan for them,” Jackson said. “Determine if it makes more sense for them to complete their 42-day monitoring period at home.”

Watch: Nebraska officials give update after passengers exposed to hantavirus arrive in Omaha

Jackson said if they remain symptom-free, medical professionals will go over the necessary requirements they need to have at home before they can leave.

“Making sure that they can be able to isolate in a separate part of structure from anybody else,” Jackson said. “Make sure that they can contact their health department, get tested, if necessary, if they develop symptoms, or if they need a higher level of medical care that’s available to them.”

At this point, it’s unclear how these practices will be upheld, but officials did say there are several boxes that need to be checked before anyone takes a flight home.

“We are here also to make sure that there’s a structure in place,” Dr. Ashley Newmyer, DHHS director of Public Health, said. “To make sure that no one poses a public health threat.”

The National Quarantine Unit’s medical director said this facility would be the best place to stay regardless.

“If I was exposed to this and I had the option to stay in a quarantine unit proximate to that care, I would definitely take that because you’re putting yourself in the position, if you were to turn positive, that you’d be in a position to take advantage of all those things,” Dr. Michael Wadman said. “That’s going to give you the best chance of survival.”

Officials did not spell out how the exposed passengers will be safely transported back to their home states, but they did say they will be escorted under “appropriate circumstances” from the time they step out of the facility until they return to their homes.