Passenger of the MV Hondius vessel, currently in quarantine in Canada, tested "presumptively positive" for hantavirus

A person exposed to hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius was diagnosed as "presumptively positive" on Saturday, according to authorities in British Columbia. This represents the first confirmed case in Canada following the outbreak.

The woman was hospitalized on Thursday, along with her husband, who is showing mild symptoms and was also a passenger on the affected ship. Both will remain in quarantine in the hospital, and a third person in quarantine has been hospitalized for further investigations. Test results are expected in the next two days.

Authorities emphasize that the overall risk to the population in Canada related to this outbreak remains low.

The MV Hondius, which departed from Argentina on April 1, had 88 passengers and 61 crew members on board. Globally, the toll is three deaths, and health authorities state that there is no specific vaccine or treatment for hantavirus, but the risk is considered low, without being compared to the COVID-19 pandemic.