Canada confirms hantavirus case in cruise passenger isolating in British Columbia

Canada's Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed a positive hantavirus case in a Canadian isolating in British Columbia after departing the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has been affected by an Andes virus outbreak. The National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg confirmed the diagnosis on Friday after testing samples from B.C. The patient was hospitalized after developing mild symptoms including fever and headache earlier in the week. A second person who travelled with the confirmed case tested negative. PHAC reported that all high-risk contacts are isolating and will be closely monitored. To date, all confirmed cases have been passengers or crew from the cruise ship. The agency emphasized that the overall risk to Canada's general population remains low.