US Spends $750K to Evacuate American from Remote Island After Cruise Ship Outbreak
The U.S. State Department is facing budgetary strain due to multiple costly evacuations, including chartering a private yacht for $750,000 to rescue a single American citizen exposed to hantavirus from remote Pitcairn Island. This operation, alongside other recent evacuations of diplomats and citizens from volatile regions and preparedness for potential Ebola-related needs, has depleted the department’s emergency fund to a seven-year low. The evacuation of the woman from Pitcairn, which has limited access and infrequent transport options, was further complicated by initial transit rejection by French Polynesian authorities. Ultimately, the woman was transported to Easter Island to facilitate her return to the United States for any necessary medical care.
John Q. Hosedrinker