One of four Canadians quarantined in British Columbia after exposure to hantavirus aboard a cruise ship has tested presumptively positive for the virus, according to provincial health officials. Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s provincial health officer, announced the case during a news conference, explaining that the individual began exhibiting mild symptoms, such as fever and headache, two days prior. Both the symptomatic individual and their partner, who were isolating together, have been moved to a Victoria hospital for further assessment and testing.
The test results received late Friday indicated a presumptive positive for the symptomatic individual, with further confirmation pending from the national microbiology lab in Winnipeg. Dr. Henry emphasized that while the outcome was not what they had hoped for, it was anticipated in their planning. She assured that the patient remains stable, with mild symptoms, and is being monitored and cared for in isolation at the hospital. Meanwhile, the patient’s partner has tested negative but will remain under hospital observation.
Out of caution, a third individual, who had been isolating with the other two, has also been transferred to the hospital for monitoring. The fourth person continues to quarantine at home with daily observations. The group had been passengers aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where the outbreak occurred. Upon their arrival in Victoria on May 10, all four Canadians were symptom-free and began a 21-day quarantine period.
In parallel developments, France’s Pasteur Institute has successfully sequenced the Andes virus found in a French passenger from the MV Hondius. Their analysis showed that the virus closely matches known strains circulating in South America and does not exhibit new characteristics that would enhance its transmissibility or danger. The viruses detected on the ship were found to be identical among patients and shared a 97% similarity with other Andes viruses in South America.
Jean-Claude Manuguerra of the Pasteur Institute noted that the remaining genetic variations are consistent with natural viral differences and do not appear to alter the virus’s behavior among travelers. Since April 11, the hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius has resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including a Dutch couple and a German woman.