Home / Health / Canadian Tests Positive for Hantavirus After Cruise
Canadian Tests Positive for Hantavirus After Cruise
17 May
Summary
- Canadian passenger on MV Hondius tests positive for hantavirus.
- Three individuals who traveled on the ship have died from the virus.
- Hantavirus does not have pandemic potential, officials state.
A Canadian passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship has tested positive for hantavirus, provincial health officials confirmed. This case is part of a larger outbreak among cruise passengers, bringing the total number of infections to 11. Sadly, three individuals who traveled on the ship have died, with two cases confirmed as hantavirus.
Health authorities have stressed that hantavirus poses no pandemic threat, distinguishing it from viruses like COVID-19. The Canadian individual is among four people isolating on Vancouver Island after returning from the ship, and none have had contact with the public. The ship, which departed Argentina on April 1, docked in Spain less than a week ago, allowing its 147 passengers and crew to disembark for isolation.
Symptoms of hantavirus can include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and shortness of breath. While typically spread by rodents, certain strains can be transmitted between humans. The World Health Organization has recommended 42 days of isolation for those affected. Officials assess the risk of a major outbreak as very low.
