Canadian cruise ship passenger presumptively positive for Andes hantavirus in B.C. isolation

A Canadian passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship affected by an Andes hantavirus outbreak has tested presumptively positive for ANDV while isolating in British Columbia. The patient, a Yukon resident in their 70s, developed mild symptoms including fever and headache two days before testing, and was hospitalized Friday. Confirmation is pending from Canada's National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg. The individual is one of four Canadians who returned from the ship and were placed under 21-day isolation. Their partner tested negative. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry emphasized the virus poses no pandemic risk and that no secondary transmission has occurred outside the cruise ship population. Three deaths have been documented globally among the 11 confirmed cases, all linked to extended ship exposure. ANDV typically spreads via rodent contamination but may rarely transmit person-to-person.