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Hantavirus Fear? Experts Say NL Safe from Rodent Virus
17 May
Summary
- Newfoundland and Labrador has virtually no risk of hantavirus, experts state.
- Deer mice, carriers of hantavirus, are not native to the province.
- A recent cruise ship outbreak does not pose a threat to the local population.
Newfoundland and Labrador residents face little risk from hantavirus, according to local virologists. The primary reason for this low concern is that deer mice, the rodents that carry the virus, are not native to the province. This contrasts with a recent outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which saw several cases and prompted monitoring of Canadian contacts.
Experts like Rod Russell and Dr. Peter Daley from Memorial University highlighted that the specific strain of hantavirus involved in the cruise ship incident, the Andes virus, is distinct from strains usually found in North America. Furthermore, no hantavirus cases have ever been officially reported in Atlantic Canada since tracking began in 1994. The province's damp climate also plays a role, as it does not typically facilitate the aerosolization of the virus from dried rodent droppings.
While hantavirus can cause severe illness, including pneumonia-like symptoms and hemorrhagic fever, the conditions that favor its spread are largely absent in Newfoundland and Labrador. Health officials do not anticipate a widespread threat similar to COVID-19. For those cleaning out homes or cabins, caution around rodent droppings is advised generally, but the specific risk associated with hantavirus remains negligible for residents.
