RFK Jr. orders passenger from hantavirus-stricken cruise to remain in quarantine in Nebraska, despite CDC recommendation

A woman who was exposed to hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise has been ordered by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to stay in federal quarantine, despite being cleared to return home to Florida by a federal health expert. Angela Perryman says that she feels like she is “in prison” and that the health system has used her as “a prop and a political stunt.” Perryman is one of 18 cruise passengers from the US who were sent to the National Quarantine Unit at Nebraska Medical Center in early May for medical monitoring after being exposed to a rare strain of hantavirus on board the ship. Some passengers have been willing to stay voluntarily for the entire 42-day quarantine period, but most have left the facility to continue quarantine at home. Passengers who departed were allowed to go if their state health departments agreed to conduct daily symptom monitoring and continuous 24/7 oversight of each person through June 21, and 10 have left. But Perryman — who initially hoped to leave by June 1 — has not been able to go. Her home state of Florida has not agreed to the federal government’s monitoring requirements. On Monday, Kennedy signed an order

Jun 16, 2026 → Jun 16, 2026