Canadian MV Hondius passenger posts “presumptive positive” hantavirus test after outbreak

(TNND) — One of four Canadians onboard a cruise ship where there was a hantavirus outbreak, received a “presumptive positive” test result for the virus after returning home, Canadian officials announced on Saturday.

Test results from the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg to confirm the case are expected to arrive over the weekend, according to Dr. Bonnie Henry, the public health officer for the province of British Columbia.

Clearly this is not what we hoped for, but it is what we planned for,” Henry said.

The individual, who is in their 70s, began showing mild symptoms such as a fever and headache, two days ago. They, along with their partner, are in a hospital in Victoria.

The patient is stable; the symptoms remain mild at this point,” said Henry. “They are still in hospital, in isolation, being monitored and receiving care as needed.

The second individual has shown “very minor symptoms”, but tests came back negative, according to Henry.

It is encouraging that symptoms were identified early; supportive care can be provided, and they will be monitored carefully over the next few days,” Henry said.

Since the hantavirus outbreak began on the MV Hondius cruise, three people have died. If confirmed, the Canadian patient will be the 10th person from the ship to test positive.

Of those who have died are a Dutch couple who health officials believe were the first to be exposed to the virus while in South America.

Health officials maintain that the hantavirus is not like COVID-19 and is not considered to have “pandemic potential.”

I want to reassure everybody in that for most of us the situation has not changed,” Henry said. “We’ve had infection control precautions in place from the moment these people arrived in British Columbia.

I’m confident there’s no additional risk. We are well prepared to respond carefully and appropriately to keep everyone safe,” she added.