NYT: Hantavirus quarantine ends for 18 Americans exposed on Dutch cruise ship

All 18 U.S. citizens who were placed under quarantine following a hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise vessel MV Hondius have returned to normal life, the New York Times reported on Sunday, citing health officials.

The quarantine was lifted in the middle of the day on Sunday after US authorities said none of the individuals tested positive for the virus, which can have an incubation period of up to six weeks.

Twelve passengers had already left a quarantine facility in Nebraska on May 31 to complete a 42-day isolation period at home, while six opted to remain in the centre for the full duration.

The outbreak occurred on board the MV Hondius, which departed Ushuaia, Argentina, on April 1 bound for the Canary Islands. Health authorities confirmed eight infections among passengers, three of which were fatal.

Around 150 people were on board the vessel, with most passengers being citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands.

By Aghakazim Guliyev