Hantavirus outbreak: 2 from cruise ship taken to Emory Hospital, 1 has symptoms

CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. — A plane carrying a couple who were on board the M/V Hondius cruise ship at the center of the hantavirus outbreak landed at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Monday.

The plane landed around 9:30 a.m., where the two patients were then put into ambulances and taken to Emory University Hospital.

A motorcade made up of law enforcement escorted the ambulances with a motorcade. Emory officials said everything went to plan and was flawless.

The specialized care the two patients are receiving, LIVE on Channel 2 Action News This Morning from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

In a news conference Monday evening, an official with Emory said they brought the patients to Atlanta specifically because one of them was symptomatic.

“One individual was deemed to be symptomatic on evaluation prior to leaving the Canary Islands, and the second individual was considered an asymptomatic but close contact to this primary individual, and both are here at Emory in our communicable diseases unit,” said Dr. Aneesh Mehta.

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The two patients are a couple, but officials have not said anything more than that about them. Officials with the Georgia Department of Public Health told Channel 2 Action News they are not from Georgia.

Dr. David Fitter, a physician with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said their priority on Monday was the safety of everyone involved.

“We understand that this is an uncertain and stressful time for the passengers. They’ve gone through quite a bit, and we’re trying to help them, and this is a priority for us, but the big priorities for us are the safe and healthy return of the passengers, but also the health and safety of American communities,” Fitter said.

Fitter said the symptomatic patient is currently receiving treatment for the hantavirus, while the asymptomatic patient is being monitored.

He said health officials are taking a “very conservative approach.”

“We know this virus, we know how it acts, and this has worked well in the past to ensure that there is no further spread,” Fitter said.

Gov. Kemp says Georgia is prepared for this

Gov. Brian Kemp briefly addressed the situation during a bill signing Monday, saying Georgia is as equipped as any state to deal with these type of patients.

“We’re going to do the right thing. We’re going to help get these people back, get them in the right environment that doesn’t put our fellow Georgians in jeopardy,” Kemp said. “We’ll be glad to have them. Very proud of our team that’s doing that. I know it’s something the White House and Trump administration has also asked that these individuals come to Atlanta because they have that much confidence in us.”

At least one of them is showing symptoms, Nebraska health officials said. The couple were moved to Atlanta to have more space in case other people test positive.

“I mean, this is a system that exists for exactly this kind of scenario, and what you are seeing is the system working,” a health official said. “The system kind of will absorb passengers as needed. And this is a very well-rehearsed system that exists, and what you are seeing is that system work exactly as intended.”

In a statement, the Georgia Department of Public Health said federal officials are taking all steps necessary so no one is put at risk.

“Federal healthcare workers are taking every precaution needed in each of these cases, and there is no risk to the public at this time. DPH is also remaining actively in communication with the CDC and other partners and will continue to do so for as long as necessary as we monitor each development in the coming days and weeks.”

Gov. Brian Kemp talks about hantavirus patients being brought to Atlanta

More passengers taken to Nebraska

Some 15 other cruise ship passengers were flown to Nebraska early Monday morning to be assessed there.

“Right now, the folks, the passengers, that are all in the sort of assessment phase, they’re going to be here for at least a few days while we do assessments and then coordination from what happens next. They certainly have the option to stay here for the entire 42-day period,” health officials said.

The patients will be monitored in quarantine for several days. They arrived “in good shape, good spirits,” said Dr. Michael Wadman, the quarantine unit’s medical director.

Health and Human Services Sec. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the government has the virus handled.

We have this under control, and we’re not worried about it,” Kennedy said.

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More Georgia victims

The Georgia Department of Public Health previously confirmed that two Georgians were on the cruise ship and returned home last week. Neither of those passengers were showing symptoms, but they are being monitored.

Three cruise ship passengers have died, and six people with confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus are being quarantined, according to the WHO. The lab results of the American who tested positive were inconclusive, WHO spokesperson Sarah Tyler said Monday.

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The Associated Press contributed to this article.