Passengers from the cruise ship MV Hondius, affected by the hantavirus outbreak, board a Euroatlantic Airways flight sure for Canada at Tenerife’s southern airport on Could 10. Photograph credit score: Reuters
Canadian authorities introduced Saturday (Could 16, 2026) that one in 4 Canadians who returned from a cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak has acquired a “presumptive constructive” take a look at end result for the virus.
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s public well being officer, mentioned outcomes confirming the case are anticipated from the Nationwide Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg over the weekend.
“Clearly this isn’t what we wished, however it’s what we had deliberate for,” Henry mentioned.
The individual, considered one of a pair of their 70s, began exhibiting gentle signs reminiscent of fever and headache two days in the past. Each are hospitalized in Victoria.
“The affected person is in secure situation and his signs stay gentle presently,” Henry mentioned. “They continue to be hospitalized, remoted, monitored and receiving care as wanted.” The second individual had “very gentle signs” and examined detrimental.
“It’s reassuring that signs have been recognized early and supportive care could be supplied. He shall be carefully monitored over the subsequent few days,” Mr Henry mentioned.
Three folks have died because the hantavirus outbreak started on the MV Hondius. If confirmed, the Canadian affected person could be the tenth individual on the ship to check constructive. The variety of contaminated folks on the ship reached 12, of which 9 have been confirmed. Among the many useless was a Dutch couple, who well being authorities consider first contracted the virus throughout a go to to South America.
The 4 Canadians returned to British Columbia on Could 10. Along with the couple of their 70s from Yukon, there was a person in his 70s from Vancouver Island and a person in his 50s from British Columbia residing abroad. Everybody was remoted.
Henry mentioned hantavirus, in contrast to COVID-19, shouldn’t be thought-about to have “pandemic potential.”
“I wish to reassure (British Columbians) that issues have not modified for many of us,” she mentioned. “From the second these folks arrived in British Columbia, we’ve put an infection management measures in place.
“We’re assured that there is no such thing as a additional danger. We’re ready to reply fastidiously and appropriately to maintain everybody protected.”
