Canada confirms first suspected hantavirus case linked to cruise ship

A Canadian traveler isolating in British Columbia after leaving the hantavirus-affected MV Hondius cruise ship has presumptively tested positive for the virus, according to health officials in Canada.

The individual began developing mild symptoms, including fever and headache, about two days ago before being taken to a hospital in Victoria, B.C., for evaluation and testing, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a May 16 media briefing streamed on YouTube.

The BC Centre for Disease Control confirmed a presumptive positive result May 15, though final confirmation is still pending from lab results. The patient remains hospitalized in isolation and is considered stable.

“Clearly, this is not what we hoped for, but it is what we planned for,” Henry said during the briefing.

Who is the patient?

Health officials have not publicly identified the patient, but Henry said earlier this week that four Canadians connected to the cruise ship outbreak were isolating in the Island Health region after returning from the voyage.

The group included two people from British Columbia and a couple from the Yukon, all ranging in age from their 50s to 70s.

Henry also said none of the travelers had contact with the public during their transfer from Victoria International Airport and that healthcare workers used personal protective equipment throughout the process.

What is happening with the MV Hondius outbreak?

The presumptive Canadian case is tied to an outbreak of the Andes strain of hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius expedition cruise ship.

According to the World Health Organization, 10 total cases linked to the outbreak have been reported globally, including three deaths. Eight of those cases have been laboratory confirmed for Andes virus infection, while two are considered probable cases.

WHO officials said May 15 the total was revised from 11 to 10 cases after a previously inconclusive test involving an American passenger later came back negative.

Are U.S. health officials monitoring the outbreak?

Yes. U.S. officials said 41 people are currently being monitored in connection with the outbreak, including cruise passengers repatriated to medical facilities in Nebraska and Georgia, travelers who had already returned home before the outbreak was identified and people potentially exposed during flights involving symptomatic passengers.

Despite the monitoring effort, U.S. officials said there are currently no confirmed hantavirus cases in the United States tied to the MV Hondius outbreak.

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected], or on Twitter @athompsonUSAT