Canadian tourist tests positive for Andes hantavirus after luxury cruise ship outbreak

A Canadian tourist from Yukon tested positive for Andes-strain hantavirus after disembarking the MV Hondius, a Dutch luxury cruise ship that departed Argentina on 1 April 2026. The patient developed mild symptoms and is in stable condition in Victoria, BC. Four Canadians (two couples from Yukon and BC) are isolating following the cruise; the confirmed positive case is from Yukon. The outbreak has caused three deaths aboard the vessel. The Andes strain can be fatal in up to 50% of cases. Health authorities emphasize low public transmission risk; hantaviruses primarily spread via rodent contact, though rare person-to-person transmission is documented. Experts suggest additional cases in other countries are likely but manageable with existing healthcare infrastructure.