Canadian health officials confirmed Sunday that one of four Canadians who returned from the MV Hondius cruise ship has tested positive for hantavirus. The outbreak, tied to the Dutch vessel, has resulted in three deaths and multiple infections.
As of May 13, the World Health Organization reported 11 identified cases, including eight confirmed, two probable, and one inconclusive. The confirmed Canadian case brings the total number of infected individuals from the ship to ten.
The patient, a Yukon resident in their 70s, traveled with a companion who tested negative. Two other Canadians-one from Vancouver Island and another from British Columbia-remain in isolation. No U.S. cases have been confirmed, though one passenger's results were inconclusive and are being retested.
The outbreak began after the MV Hondius departed Argentina on April 1 with 147 passengers and crew. The Andes virus strain involved is the only hantavirus known to spread person-to-person, though this transmission is considered rare.
Health officials in Ontario County, New York, are investigating a suspected locally acquired hantavirus case unrelated to the cruise ship. The World Health Organization has assessed the global risk as low, and experts emphasize hantavirus is difficult to transmit compared to viruses like COVID-19.