OMAHA — The last eight American passengers held in the National Quarantine Unit in Omaha, Nebraska, have left the facility. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the end of the quarantine on Monday.

"Through close collaboration among federal, state, and local partners, HHS helped protect the American people, contain potential risks, and bring this response effort to a successful conclusion," HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard said in an email. The quarantine period ended on Sunday at 2 p.m., at which point passengers were allowed to depart. The government paid for the passengers' flights home.

Angela Perryman, one of the quarantined passengers, was held against her will due to a quarantine order, despite a government medical expert's recommendation. Florida officials had refused a federal demand that the state provide round-the-clock surveillance on Perryman if she were returned home. Perryman and seven others spent six weeks at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. None of the quarantined Americans developed the illness. "We were locked in our rooms until 1:55. And at 2 o'clock, 'OK, well, everybody walk out and go home,'" Perryman said from her Florida home. She called the six-week quarantine "a political stunt."

More than 120 people were evacuated from the Dutch cruise ship, the MV Hondius, in Spain's Canary Islands early last month after a hantavirus outbreak was documented. Sixteen Americans were evacuated to the Nebraska quarantine unit on May 11, with two others joining a few days later, bringing the total to 18 Americans in the unit. Seven of the remaining patients in the quarantine unit remained voluntarily. Ten other individuals at the facility were allowed to leave earlier under an agreement for monitoring in their home states. Approximately 25 Americans were on the ship in total. At least 30 other passengers had left the ship before the outbreak was documented, and seven Americans who left the ship early were allowed to monitor for symptoms at home.

A total of 13 cases of the virus were identified among people on the ship, with three people dying from the virus. Health officials believe a Dutch couple were the first exposed to the virus while visiting South America. Hantaviruses typically spread when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings. The hantavirus involved, known as the Andes virus, may be capable of spreading between people in rare instances, according to health officials.

During their stay, local Omaha restaurants and food trucks delivered meals to the passengers almost daily. Passenger Jake Rosmarin posted a video on Monday morning showing him leaving his room at the quarantine center. Rosmarin also posted a video of the Omaha skyline from his plane as he traveled to Boston. "I want to thank the Omaha, Nebraska, community for welcoming us with open arms and showing us complete kindness and generosity . And a big thanks to all of you who have helped me get through this because I really don't know if it would have been as easy without the support from strangers," Rosmarin said.