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Four Canadians Test Positive for Hantavirus Aboard MV Hondius
17 May
Summary
- One in four Canadians on the MV Hondius tested positive for the Andes hantavirus.
- Two couples, one from Yukon and one from British Columbia, were affected.
- The overall risk to the Canadian population remains low, officials stated.
A hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship has resulted in four Canadian passengers testing positive for the Andes strain. This represents one in four Canadians on board who contracted the virus. The affected individuals comprised two couples, one pair from Yukon and the other from British Columbia.
Provincial health officer Bonnie Henry stated that the person from Yukon had no contact with the public after being transferred to Victoria. Authorities emphasize that the overall risk to the general population in Canada from this outbreak remains low currently.
However, due to the virus's severity, a precautionary approach is being taken to protect Canadians. Hantaviruses are typically spread by rodents but can, in rare instances, transmit between people. While more cases are anticipated due to the cruise ship outbreak, public health risks are assessed as low.
