Canadian Passenger Tests Positive for Hantavirus Following Cruise Ship Outbreak

A Canadian who sailed on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which was hit by a hantavirus outbreak in April, has tested positive for the disease, according to officials in British Columbia.

The individual, one of four people isolating on Vancouver Island after leaving the ship, developed mild symptoms but has not interacted with the public since arriving in the country.

This case increases the total number of infections among cruise passengers to 11. Tragically, three people have died, with two confirmed to have contracted the virus.

British Columbia’s senior health officer, Bonnie Henry, confirmed that the individual’s test result was a presumptive positive. It is pending confirmation from a national microbiology lab. Dr. Henry mentioned the situation is being closely monitored and reassured citizens about the nature of the virus.

“Clearly, this is not what we hoped for, but it is what we planned for,” she stated, highlighting that hantavirus is different from respiratory viruses associated with higher pandemic potential, like COVID-19.

Out of the six Canadians who were on the Dutch ship, two are self-isolating at their home in Ontario, while two couples remain on Vancouver Island. The individual who tested positive is from Yukon.

The cruise ship set sail from Argentina on April 1, docking in Tenerife, Spain on May 10, enabling passengers to leave and enter isolation. Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship’s owner, confirmed that the vessel will arrive in Rotterdam soon, with no symptomatic individuals remaining on board.

Health officials recommend a 42-day isolation period and are maintaining a strict protocol as they navigate this situation. Hantaviruses are typically carried by rodents, with the Andes strain thought to have been contracted by some passengers in South America, although the risk of a major outbreak remains extremely low.

Symptoms of hantavirus include fever, extreme fatigue, muscle aches, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. Health experts continue to stress the importance of surveillance and preparedness as the situation unfolds.