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Canadians Evacuated Amid Rare Hantavirus Outbreak
11 May
Summary
- Four Canadians are being flown to British Columbia due to a hantavirus outbreak.
- The travelers will self-isolate for at least 21 days upon arrival in B.C.
- Hantavirus is not easily transmitted between people, unlike respiratory viruses.
Four Canadian citizens who were on a cruise ship affected by a rare hantavirus outbreak are being flown to British Columbia. This repatriation effort aims to ensure their safety and monitoring by public health officials. The travelers arrived on a chartered flight from Tenerife, Spain, and will transfer to another plane bound for an unspecified airport in B.C.
Upon arrival in British Columbia, the four Canadians will be assessed by local public health teams. They will then self-isolate in pre-arranged accommodations for a minimum of 21 days, a period that could extend up to 42 days due to the virus's incubation timeline. Throughout their isolation, they will have no public contact and will be monitored daily.
Hantavirus is distinct from respiratory viruses like COVID-19 and does not pose a pandemic risk due to its limited human-to-human transmission. While three deaths have been linked to the outbreak, the affected Canadians remained asymptomatic while on the ship. Spanish health officials conducted screenings before passengers disembarked.
