4 Canadians from hantavirus-stricken cruise ship arriving in B.C.

WHO’s director-general speaks about the efforts underway to safely disembark passengers from the hantavirus-hit cruise.

B.C.’s top doctor says four Canadians who disembarked a cruise ship on which there was a deadly hantavirus outbreak will be arriving in the province Sunday.

The people, who were on board the MV Hondius, will be accompanied to British Columbia on a government-chartered aircraft with a federal quarantine officer on board before entering self-isolation—which could last as long as 42 days.

None of the individuals are symptomatic, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said in a statement.

“At no point during their arrival or isolation period will they be in contact with the public,” she said.

“They will be monitored daily by local public health teams to ensure that they remain well and are safely isolating. It has been a very challenging time for these four Canadians and public health teams are committed to supporting them through this process.”

Three people have died since the outbreak began, and five passengers who left the ship are infected with hantavirus, which can cause life-threatening illness.

Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship’s owner, says the the four Canadians were among the roughly 130 other asymptomatic passengers on board the MV Hondius when it reached port Sunday morning.

Henry acknowledged the news she shared Sunday would likely be alarming to the public, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. But she said the province has the capacity to manage this safely, and that hantavirus “is not considered a disease with pandemic potential.”

Hantavirus usually spreads when people inhale contaminated residue of rodent droppings and isn’t easily transmitted between people. But the Andes virus detected in the cruise ship outbreak may be able to spread between people in rare cases.

“Our priority is the health and well-being of these returning Canadians and the safety of British Columbians,” Henry said, in her statement.

“We are taking every measure to minimize and eliminate any risk to the public. These individuals are asymptomatic, public health protocols are in place and this situation is being carefully managed at every step.”

With files from The Canadian Press