Canada has confirmed a hantavirus case linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, which has resulted in three deaths and multiple illnesses among passengers.
Canadian health officials have confirmed a case of hantavirus associated with the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, which has tragically resulted in the deaths of three individuals and has sickened several others.
On Sunday, the Public Health Agency of Canada announced that one of four Canadians who returned from the MV Hondius tested positive for hantavirus. This confirmation follows earlier statements from British Columbia’s chief public health officer, who had referred to the case as a “presumptive positive.” In a statement, the agency confirmed, “One individual’s sample was confirmed positive for hantavirus.” Additional testing is expected to be conducted at a national laboratory, although it remains unclear whether this testing will focus on confirmation, strain characterization, or another purpose.
The outbreak has prompted global health officials to monitor the situation closely, as the hantavirus is relatively rare. As of May 13, the World Health Organization reported a total of 11 cases linked to the cruise, including eight confirmed cases, two probable cases, and one inconclusive case. Among these cases, three have resulted in fatalities. Following the Canadian confirmation, the total number of individuals from the ship who have tested positive for hantavirus has risen to ten.
Among the confirmed cases is a couple in their 70s from Yukon, who traveled together on the cruise. While one of them tested positive for the virus, the other has tested negative. Additionally, a third individual in their 70s from Vancouver Island is currently in isolation, along with a British Columbia resident in their 50s.
As of now, no confirmed cases in the United States have been linked to the cruise ship. However, the World Health Organization noted that one passenger who was repatriated to the U.S. had inconclusive laboratory results and is undergoing further testing.
In a separate development, health officials in Ontario County, New York, are investigating a suspected locally acquired hantavirus case that is unrelated to the cruise ship outbreak. The Ontario County Public Health Department has assured the public that there is no risk to the general population. They also indicated that the strain typically found in the U.S. is not known to spread from person to person.
The outbreak associated with the MV Hondius began after the Dutch cruise ship, which was carrying 147 passengers and crew members, departed from Argentina on April 1 for a voyage across the South Atlantic.
The situation has led to increased precautions internationally, including in the Netherlands, where Radboud University Medical Center quarantined 12 staff members after mishandling a hantavirus patient’s blood and urine, failing to adhere to the recommended strict protocols for the virus strain.
Comparisons have been drawn between this outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst at Fox News, emphasized that there is “no comparison.” He explained that hantavirus is not easily transmitted, stating, “It’s not airborne … in terms of respiratory droplets hanging in the air. It’s very difficult to transmit.” While COVID-19 has shown significant human-to-human transmission, hantavirus has only been documented to transmit in “very rare” cases.
The World Health Organization has assessed the risk to the global population as low, but it has acknowledged that there is evidence suggesting possible human-to-human transmission may have occurred aboard the ship. The Andes virus is the only hantavirus known to have documented person-to-person transmission, although such instances are considered uncommon.
Dr. Siegel also noted that hantavirus cases have been reported in the United States for decades, but they remain “very rare.” The ongoing investigation into the MV Hondius outbreak continues as health officials work to contain the situation and ensure public safety.
For further information, refer to reports from The Associated Press.