Canadian MV Hondius cruise passenger tests positive for hantavirus
NBC News • • general
Key Points:
- A Canadian passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship tested positive for the Andes hantavirus and was hospitalized along with their spouse, who has mild symptoms; both remain in isolation.
- A third person, related or connected to the couple, was also hospitalized for assessment and testing as a precaution, with confirmatory test results expected within two days.
- Canadian health officials are monitoring 36 people, including four cruise passengers, in isolation, but state the overall risk to the Canadian public remains low despite the virus's severity.
- In Washington state, six potential Andes hantavirus cases are under investigation, mostly linked to contact with a Hondius passenger, while a separate case of Sin Nombre hantavirus was reported, which is the more common hantavirus in the U.S.
- Health authorities emphasize that the risk to the general public from hantaviruses remains very low and continue to monitor the situation closely.