U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. denied a passenger exposed to the hantavirus in May the right to leave a Nebraska quarantine center despite a federal medical review concluding her confinement in Florida was unnecessary, according to officials. Angela Perryman, 47, remained detained through Tuesday, citing restrictions that she compared to “prison-like” conditions. The decision drew criticism from public health experts who called it “a gross violation” of individual rights, as federal guidelines conflicted with state proposals for less restrictive monitoring.
The dispute centers on the Andes virus, which has a 40% fatality rate—40 times higher than COVID-19—and a 42-day incubation period, according to U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) spokesperson Courtney Spencer. Federal authorities required Perryman to undergo daily in-person monitoring, a condition Florida rejected as “excessive” and “a waste of resources.” A CDC-led review in early June recommended allowing her to complete quarantine at home, but Kennedy’s office upheld the Nebraska confinement, citing public health concerns without specifying how Perryman posed a risk.
Perryman, who lives in Ecuador but maintains a home in Florida, described the quarantine as dehumanizing. “I want to feel fresh air on my face when I want,” she said. “I want to walk on grass.” She was among 18 passengers from a South Atlantic cruise that sparked an unusual hantavirus outbreak, in which three people died. The virus typically spreads through rodent droppings but can transmit between humans in rare cases.
The conflict highlights tensions between federal and state approaches to quarantine enforcement. Initial orders, signed by CDC acting director Jay Bhattacharya, required Perryman to stay in Nebraska until May 31. After Florida rejected federal monitoring terms, officials mandated her continued detention. Eight passengers remained in the Nebraska facility as of Tuesday, while 10 others returned home after states agreed to federal protocols.
Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) defended the decision, stating it was “necessary to ensure the well-being of the woman and her community.” However, Lawrence Gostin, a public health law expert who helped shape federal quarantine regulations, called the order “hypocritical,” noting Kennedy’s history of opposing mass quarantines. “The premise of his MAHA movement is medical freedom, yet they’re detaining someone against their will,” Gostin said.
Perryman’s case may set a precedent for future quarantine disputes. Legal scholars suggest the outcome could influence how federal agencies handle similar conflicts, particularly as new pathogens emerge. Meanwhile, the passenger continues to advocate for her release, describing the Nebraska facility’s conditions as “a prison” where she receives meals via gloves and masks and is allowed brief rooftop visits under armed guard.
What are the long-term implications of this conflict between federal mandates and state autonomy in public health crises?
