Hantavirus outbreak sparks concern among cruise passengers in Canada

A deadly hantavirus outbreak on a luxury cruise ship could be causing some Canadians to reconsider their travel plans. Paul Hollingsworth reports.

The cruise ship industry is big business, and it represents a huge portion of tourism in Nova Scotia.

“The cruise season extends the tourism season, and it makes the visitation stronger,” said Sean Buckland, who owns the Ambassatours Gray Line tour company in Halifax.

350,000 cruise ship passengers visit Halifax every year, but the deadly hantavirus outbreak onboard the MV Hondius is so terrifying that some travellers will not be going on an ocean cruise anytime soon.

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“I wouldn’t go on them,” said Sylvia Combs, who visited Halifax from Victoria, B.C.

Buckland is watching the hantavirus outbreak closely and, so far, has not seen a drop-off in cruise ship passengers. He also has a reassuring message for all would-be travellers.

“We have taken every precaution necessary to make sure they have a safe experience with us,” said Buckland, who added that the outbreak came at a time when the cruise schedule was already getting busy, especially in this part of the country, with more than 180 cruise ships scheduled to visit Halifax from now until November.

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“It’s not the news that the industry wants at any time,” said Lorn Sheehan, a Dalhousie University professor specializing in tourism and destination management. According to Sheehan, the onus is now on travel companies to maintain a high level of consumer confidence.

“They should say, ‘trust that we are doing what we can to keep the experience as safe as possible as we always do on our cruise ships,’” said Sheehan.

Calgary resident Norman Yee has gone on ocean cruises in the past and said he will do so again. Yee pointed out that, while the hantavirus does not resemble the spread of COVID-19, the recent pandemic does serve as a reminder of what to do in these situations.

“We are just more prepared,” said Yee. “I don’t necessarily wear a mask when I’m on a plane or a cruise ship, but I have them available. We also clean our hands, and we make sure that surfaces we are touching are about as clean as they can be.”

While maintaining those sanitary standards, Yee said he will stay prepared for all possible public health dangers as he plans his vacation travel schedule for the upcoming summer season.