Why treat people exposed to virus in Omaha? Why not?
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Why are 13 people potentially exposed to a viral outbreak being treated and observed in Omaha, Nebraska? Because nearly 20 years ago, a few doctors, public health experts and officials realized nearly no one was meeting a national need for such specialized care and figured, why not Omaha?
They created the nation's largest biocontainment unit and quarantine facility that have become a focus of attention because they're housing people evacuated from a cruise ship in Japan.
Nearly 60 more people potentially exposed to the virus are also in quarantine at a Nebraska National Guard base, which is also close to the biocontainment unit.
Medical tests for 13 from cruise ship await federal review
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) - An official says results from new tests for the COVID-19 disease on 13 people evacuated to an Omaha hospital from a cruise ship in Japan await confirmation from federal experts.
Taylor Wilson with Nebraska Medicine said Tuesday that the results aren't expected for several days.
The 13 were part of a larger group of American citizens who'd arrived back in the U.S. Monday.
One of the 13 was placed in a biocontainment unit at Nebraska Medical Center to receive a higher level of care because he had a cough and other symptoms in addition to a chronic illness.