May 2026: U.S. Passenger Detained in Hantavirus Quarantine

On May 18, 2026, Angela Perryman, a 47‑year‑old American traveler, found herself unable to leave a federal quarantine facility in Nebraska after returning from the MV Hondius cruise ship, which had a hantavirus outbreak.

Officials had promised that the stay would be voluntary. “I trusted the federal officials,” Perryman said. “I was told the stay would be for monitoring only.” However, a police editor issued a legal order that kept her and at least one other passenger confined until the end of May.

Perryman describes the experience as “betrayed” and “imprisoned.” She wishes only to monitor her temperature at home while her health remains stable. “I want to step outside and breathe fresh air,” she said.

Legal experts differ. Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University says the CDC order has a solid legal basis because hantavirus can spread through close contact. James Hodge of Arizona State University notes that if the risk is uncertain, the order could violate due process.

The federal government is the first to mandate quarantine since the COVID‑19 pandemic. The case may set a precedent for future outbreaks and legal challenges.