British Columbia passenger has presumptive hantavirus result after MV Hondius voyage

Canadian health officials said one of four cruise passengers who returned to British Columbia after traveling aboard MV Hondius received a presumptive positive test for hantavirus.

Dr Bonnie Henry said the passenger was in stable condition at a Victoria hospital. A second member of the hospitalized couple experienced very minor symptoms but tested negative, according to Henry.

Officials said the four travelers arrived in British Columbia on May 10 and were placed in isolation. The group included a Yukon couple in their 70s, a Vancouver Island resident in their 70s and a British Columbia resident in their 50s who lives abroad.

The outbreak aboard MV Hondius had reached 12 cases, including nine confirmed infections, officials said. Three people had died since the outbreak began. Health authorities believed a Dutch couple who died were initially exposed during a visit to South America.

Henry said hantavirus differs from COVID-19 and was not considered to have pandemic potential.