Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center are hosting 13 Americans exposed to the new coronavirus at the recently opened National Quarantine Unit.

Some of the patients have tested positive for COVID-19, the new disease first discovered late last year in Wuhan, China. They had been quarantined on a cruse ship docked off the coast of Japan for two weeks before arriving in Omaha.

As of Monday evening, the patients who tested positive for the virus were only showing mild symptoms of the disease. One person was placed in the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, which had cared for three Ebola patients in late 2014.

“We were there for Ebola, we were there for the rescued Americans now being monitored at Camp Ashland and we’re going to be there for these American citizens as well,” UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey Gold said in a statement. “Because we are one of the world leaders in this arena, we were asked by our federal partners, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to rise to the challenge when our nation once more critically needs our expertise. Clearly, this is again, one of those times.”

The cruise ship passengers will be closely monitored and tested for coronavirus before leaving quarantine, according to Nebraska Medicine.

They arrived by a bus driven straight to the quarantine unit after landing at Eppley Airfield. They deplaned in a remote area of the airfield and did not enter the passenger terminal.

“We understand the significance of providing effective quarantine and isolation, and are grateful that we can help fellow Americans at a time of need,” Nebraska Medicine CEO James Linder said.

In a Tuesday interview, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the virus outbreak  “is not out of control but it is a very dangerous situation.”

“The risks are enormous and we need to be prepared worldwide for that,” Guterres said.

The U.S. has 15 documented cases of COVID-19 with zero deaths, according to Nebraska Medicine. A release stated that the fatality rate is estimated to be between 1% and 2% with most deaths resulting from other medical conditions.

The outbreak has infected more than 73,000 people globally. It has killed more than 1,860 people.

This report contains material from The Associated Press.

Evacuee Underwent Evaluation at UNMC Quarantine Facility

One of 57 evacuees from the virus zone in China who is being held in quarantine in Ashland was transported last Friday to an isolation unit to undergo testing after developing a mild cough overnight.

Nebraska Medicine officials said the woman’s symptoms were “extremely mild” without a fever when she was taken to the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

She tested negative for the new virus COVID-19. After two tests, she was returned to Camp Ashland on Saturday after staying in the newly opened federally funded National Quarantine Unit.

Nebraska Medicine has said all of the evacuees were symptom-free and are scheduled to be released from quarantine on Feb. 20.

– The Associated Press