In British Columbia, a Canadian individual has tested presumptively positive for hantavirus after being quarantined following exposure on a cruise ship. Dr. Bonnie Henry, the provincial health officer, announced on Saturday that the individual developed mild symptoms such as fever and headache two days prior and was subsequently hospitalized in Victoria along with their partner for further assessment and testing. While the test showed a positive result, it is considered “presumptive,” pending confirmation from the national microbiology lab in Winnipeg, with results expected over the weekend.
Dr. Henry assured the public that the patient’s condition is stable, with symptoms remaining mild, and emphasized that the patient is receiving necessary care in isolation at the hospital. The partner of the affected individual tested negative but will remain under hospital observation as a precautionary measure. Additionally, a third individual from the same lodging was also taken to the hospital for monitoring, while a fourth person continues to isolate at home under regular observation.
The four Canadians involved had been aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, which experienced a hantavirus outbreak. They arrived in Victoria on May 10 and were symptom-free upon arrival. Following protocol, they were transferred directly to quarantine lodgings for at least 21 days. The outbreak on the ship has already resulted in the deaths of three individuals, including a Dutch couple and a German woman, who died from suspected hantavirus infections since April 11.
Meanwhile, France’s Pasteur Institute has sequenced the Andes virus found in a French passenger from the same cruise ship. The analysis revealed that it matches known strains in South America and shows no new characteristics that would increase its transmissibility or danger. According to the Pasteur Institute, the virus samples from the ship’s patients were identical to each other and closely resembled the Andes virus strains found in South America, including those in rodents.
Jean-Claude Manuguerra of Pasteur’s environment and infectious risk unit noted that the variations observed in the virus are consistent with natural viral diversity and do not appear to alter the virus’s characteristics among the travelers. This genomic confirmation helps to understand the virus’s behavior and potential risks associated with the outbreak on the MV Hondius.