Canadian officials confirmed on Saturday that a test for one of the four Canadians quarantining in British Columbia after exposure to hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship has indicated a positive result. The individual developed mild symptoms, including fever and headache, two days ago and was transferred to a hospital in Victoria for assessment.
Presumptive Positive Result
Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia's provincial health officer, stated that the test results are currently a "presumptive positive" and samples have been sent to the national microbiology lab in Winnipeg for confirmatory testing. Results are expected over the weekend. "Clearly this is not what we hoped for, but it is what we planned for," Henry said. "The patient is stable, and their symptoms remain mild. They are still in hospital, in isolation, being monitored and receiving care as needed."
Details of the Cases
The patient's partner tested negative but remains in hospital for monitoring. A third individual from the same lodging has also been transferred to hospital as a precaution, while the fourth person continues to isolate at home under daily observation. The four Canadians arrived in Victoria on May 10 and were symptom-free upon arrival, beginning a 21-day quarantine.
Virus Sequencing
France's Pasteur Institute fully sequenced the Andes virus detected in a French passenger from the ship, finding it matched known viruses in South America with no evidence of increased transmissibility or danger. The viruses detected in patients were identical to each other and about 97% similar to some Andes viruses circulating in South America, including those in rodents.
Outbreak Background
Since April 11, three people from the cruise ship have died of suspected hantavirus infections, including a Dutch couple and a German woman. The outbreak has raised concerns about the spread of the virus, which is typically transmitted through rodent droppings.
