Hantavirus: 2 patients arrive in Atlanta, 15 in Nebraska

High-stakes medical protocols are in effect Monday as the domestic phase of the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak begins. While two passengers have landed in Georgia, Emory University Hospital—one of the nation’s premier centers for infectious disease—is on high alert as potential patients are transported for specialized care. Kaitlynn Pratt was live outside Emory, where the Serious Communicable Diseases Unit is prepared to handle the unique challenges of the virus strain. Other American passengers who were evacuated from the ship in Tenerife arrived at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) in Omaha. Spanish Health Minister Mónica García confirmed that the remaining passengers slated for repatriation will be flown to the Netherlands this afternoon on a single aircraft. The update comes as health authorities confirm new positive cases among those who were recently evacuated, intensifying the scrutiny on the rare Andes virus strain.