Dr. Stephen Kornfeld could be back in Oregon after hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- An Oregon resident, Dr. Stephen Kornfeld, could be back in Oregon and under quarantine through June 21 after returning to the state June 1 from a Nebraska quarantine facility.

Kornfeld was previously aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius, where an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus occurred.

The state did not specifically say that Kornfeld was the passenger that returned to the state - however - he is the only passenger KTVZ News knows of that was from Oregon on the ship. He did speak with KTVZ News prior to returning to the United States on May 10 and was subsequently housed at the National Quarantine Unit (NQU) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

The Oregon Health Authority has collaborated closely with federal and local partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local public health authorities, on the response to the Andes virus outbreak. This collaboration included implementing guidelines for the safe return of any Oregon passenger to the state.

The Oregon Health Authority reminds people that the risk of infection with Andes virus in Oregon remains extremely low and there are no concerns of transmission to the general public.