Hantavirus Exposure in British Columbia

Canadian officials announced on Saturday that one of the four individuals currently quarantined in British Columbia, after being exposed to the hantavirus on a cruise ship, has tested presumptively positive for the virus.

During a news conference, Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer for British Columbia, shared that this individual developed mild symptoms, such as fever and headache, a couple of days ago. Both the individual and their partner, who were isolating together, were moved to a Victoria hospital for evaluation and testing.

Henry mentioned that late Friday evening, test results for the symptomatic person returned positive. However, she emphasized that this is a “presumptive positive” result, and samples have been sent to a national lab in Winnipeg for further confirmation. Results from these tests should be available over the weekend.

“This isn’t the outcome we wanted, but we were prepared for this possibility,” Henry noted.

The patient remains stable, with mild symptoms, and is continuing to receive care in isolation at the hospital. Their partner, on the other hand, tested negative but will stay in the hospital for monitoring.

Due to caution, the third individual who was also isolating in the same lodging has been taken to the hospital for additional monitoring. The fourth person is isolating at home while being observed daily, according to Henry.

The four Canadians were aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where the hantavirus outbreak was identified. They arrived in Victoria on May 10, and at that time, none exhibited any symptoms.

Upon arrival, they were placed in quarantine for a minimum of 21 days. The World Health Organization recommends a quarantine period of 42 days, which adds another layer of concern.

Since April 11, three other individuals who were on the cruise ship were reported to have died from suspected hantavirus infections, including a Dutch couple and a German woman.