One out of four Canadians who isolated in British Columbia after departing from a cruise ship affected by a hantavirus outbreak has tested “presumptive positive,” according to B.C.’s chief medical officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry. The patient, who displayed mild symptoms such as fever and headache two days ago, was admitted to the hospital. The test results indicating a presumptive positive were obtained on Friday and will be confirmed by a national microbiology lab in Winnipeg. Despite the situation, Dr. Henry mentioned that the individual will be treated as having the illness as a precautionary measure.
Dr. Henry clarified that while the news may cause concern, hantavirus differs significantly from other respiratory viruses like COVID-19, influenza, and measles, and it is not considered to pose a pandemic threat.
Following their return to Canada on Sunday, four cruise ship passengers began isolating on Vancouver Island. Three of these individuals, including an Island resident in their 70s, a B.C. resident in their 50s living abroad, and a couple from the Yukon in their 70s, were placed in hospitals in Victoria. The person with the presumptive positive test result is from the Yukon, while their partner tested negative despite showing minor symptoms.
The third individual who stayed in Island Health lodging has not tested positive but is under hospital monitoring as a precaution. Dr. Réka Gustafson, Island Health’s chief medical health officer, reassured the public that seeking medical care in Island Health facilities remains safe and encouraged, emphasizing the hospitals’ ability to handle various medical conditions and infections effectively.
The four passengers from the cruise ship were mandated to isolate for at least 21 days, representing the high-risk phase of the virus’s 42-day incubation period. Dr. Henry highlighted that the situation for the Yukon couple has evolved significantly, leading to a reassessment of their isolation requirements.
The Public Health Agency of Canada stated that results from the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg are awaited within the next two days, underscoring the low risk to the general population from the hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship but emphasizing precautionary measures to safeguard Canadians.
Since the outbreak on the MV Hondius, three deaths have been reported. Dr. Henry pointed out that all 11 confirmed cases globally were individuals who had prolonged exposure on the cruise ship, indicating no infections of individuals not on the trip to date. Hantavirus typically spreads through inhaling contaminated rodent droppings and is not easily transmissible between people. However, the Andes virus identified in the cruise ship outbreak may have the potential for rare person-to-person transmission. Symptoms usually manifest between one to eight weeks post-exposure.
Dr. Henry assured that the Canadians isolating in the Island Health area had no direct contact with the ship’s affected individuals. She confirmed that individuals who shared the plane back to Canada with them are not at risk since the cruise ship passengers were asymptomatic during the flight, and the current patient only showed symptoms 48 hours post-arrival. Strict infection control measures have been in place since the individuals arrived in British Columbia to prevent any additional risk to others outside of healthcare workers following PPE protocols.