Canadian officials have confirmed the first hantavirus case in the country, involving an individual who was on board the MV Hondius cruise ship at the center of a deadly outbreak. The patient, currently isolated in a hospital in Victoria, British Columbia, developed mild symptoms including fever and headache two days ago.
Presumptive Positive Test
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia's provincial health officer, announced on Saturday that the test result is a presumptive positive. Samples have been sent to the national microbiology lab in Winnipeg for confirmatory testing, with results expected over the weekend.
"Clearly this is not what we hoped for, but it is what we planned for," Henry said during a news conference. She emphasized that the patient remains stable, symptoms are mild, and they are receiving appropriate care in isolation.
Quarantine and Monitoring
The patient's partner, who was also on the cruise and isolating together, tested negative but will remain hospitalized for monitoring. As a precaution, a third individual from the same lodging has been transferred to hospital, while a fourth continues to isolate at home under daily observation.
The four Canadians arrived in Victoria on May 10 after being on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, where the hantavirus outbreak occurred. Upon arrival, none showed symptoms, and they began a mandatory 21-day quarantine.
Genetic Analysis of the Virus
France's Pasteur Institute has fully sequenced the Andes virus detected in a French passenger from the same ship. The analysis confirmed it matches known viruses in South America, with no evidence of increased transmissibility or danger.
Jean-Claude Manuguerra, head of Pasteur's environment and infectious risk unit, noted that the virus detected in patients from the ship is identical to each other and about 97% similar to some Andes viruses circulating in South America, including those found in rodents. The remaining variation appears to be natural and does not affect the virus's characteristics.
Background of the Outbreak
Since April 11, three people who were on board the MV Hondius have died from suspected hantavirus infections, including a Dutch couple and a German woman. The outbreak has raised concerns about the spread of the virus, which is typically transmitted through rodent droppings.
