OMAHA— Five of the 18 cruise ship passengers being monitored for potential hantavirus exposure at the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha have been allowed to return home to complete the remainder of their 42-day observation period. Federal officials arranged charter flights for the passengers, who will now be monitored by local health departments through June 21. None of the passengers have developed symptoms of hantavirus.

The remaining 13 passengers have chosen to stay at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's quarantine facility, citing its specialized infectious disease expertise. State and federal officials emphasized that the passengers do not pose a risk to the public, and Gov. Jim Pillen called the departures a positive development, noting that those who left were considered lower risk.

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