Canada confirms hantavirus case linked to cruise ship outbreak that has killed three passengers

Canadian wellness officials connected Sunday confirmed that 1 of 4 Canadians who returned from the MV Hondius cruise ship, the taxable of an planetary Andes hantavirus outbreak, tested affirmative for hantavirus. Three radical connected to the outbreak person died.

The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed the affirmative trial aft British Columbia’s apical nationalist wellness serviceman antecedently described the lawsuit arsenic a "presumptive positive."

"One individual’s illustration was confirmed affirmative for hantavirus," the bureau said successful a statement.

Officials said further investigating volition beryllium conducted astatine a nationalist laboratory. It was not instantly wide whether that investigating was for confirmation, strain characterization oregon different purpose.

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER DESCRIBES UNCERTAINTY AFTER 3 DEATHS AMID HANTAVIRUS PROBE

Experts accidental cruise outbreaks get much attraction owed to nationalist reporting rules, but galore travelers inactive program to sail arsenic booked. (Myloupe/Universal Images Group)

The improvement comes arsenic planetary wellness officials proceed monitoring the uncommon hantavirus outbreak tied to the MV Hondius, which has sickened aggregate passengers.

As of May 13, the World Health Organization said 11 cases had been identified successful transportation with the cruise outbreak, including 8 confirmed cases, 2 probable cases and 1 inconclusive case. Those figures included 3 deaths. The Associated Press aboriginal reported that the Canadian confirmation brought the fig of radical from the vessel who had tested affirmative to 10.

Canadian wellness officials said 4 Canadians returned location from the MV Hondius, though lone 1 has tested affirmative for the virus.

RARE HANTAVIRUS HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION SUSPECTED ON LUXURY CRUISE SHIP WHERE 3 HAVE DIED

The uncommon Andes virus, which was linked to the MV Hondius cruise vessel outbreak, is the lone known hantavirus strain that has the capableness to dispersed from idiosyncratic to person, usually done prolonged adjacent contact. (Andres Gutierrez/Anadolu)

The confirmed diligent and a traveling companion — identified arsenic a Yukon mates successful their 70s — returned from the cruise together. The companion aboriginal tested negative, officials said.

A 3rd idiosyncratic successful their 70s from Vancouver Island remains successful isolation, on with a British Columbia nonmigratory successful their 50s.

So far, nary confirmed U.S. cases tied to the cruise vessel person been reported, though WHO said arsenic of May 13 that 1 U.S.-repatriated rider had inconclusive laboratory results and was undergoing retesting.

HANTAVIRUS DEATHS ON CRUISE SHIP HIGHLIGHT DANGERS OF RODENT-BORNE DISEASE

Pictured is the MV Hondius, the cruise vessel tied to a hantavirus outbreak aft a halt successful Argentina that near 3 passengers dead. (Europa Press Canarias via Getty Images)

Last week, however, wellness officials successful Ontario County, New York, announced they were investigating a suspected locally acquired hantavirus lawsuit unrelated to the cruise ship.

The Ontario County Public Health Department said determination was nary hazard to the wide public. Officials besides said the strain typically seen successful the United States is not known to dispersed from idiosyncratic to person.

The outbreak linked to the MV Hondius began aft the Dutch cruise ship, carrying 147 passengers and unit members, departed Argentina connected April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage.

TRAPPED CRUISE SHIP PASSENGER SHARES UPDATE ON CLEANLINESS OF SHIP AMID DEADLY HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK

The outbreak has prompted heightened precautions internationally, including successful the Netherlands, wherever Radboud University Medical Center quarantined 12 unit members aft officials said a hantavirus patient’s humor and urine were not handled nether the strictest protocols recommended for the microorganism strain.

The outbreak has besides sparked comparisons to the coronavirus pandemic. However, Fox News elder aesculapian expert Dr. Marc Siegel antecedently told Fox News Digital determination is "no comparison."

He noted hantavirus is hard to spread.

Passengers evacuated from the hantavirus-stricken Hondius cruise vessel locomotion with their belongings aft disembarking astatine Eindhoven Air Base, Netherlands, connected May 12. (Piroschka van de Wouw)

"It's not airborne ... successful presumption of respiratory droplets hanging successful the air," helium said. "It's precise hard to transmit."

While coronavirus "moved successful the absorption of humans successful a important way," hantavirus has not, but for "very rare" cases of human-to-human transmission, helium added.

The World Health Organization has assessed the hazard to the planetary colonisation arsenic low, portion noting that existent grounds suggests consequent human-to-human transmission whitethorn person occurred connected board. Andes microorganism is the lone hantavirus known to person documented person-to-person transmission, though specified dispersed is considered rare.

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Siegel besides noted hantavirus cases person been reported successful the United States for decades, though they stay "very rare."

Fox News Digital’s Brittany Miller and Angelica Stabile, on with The Associated Press, contributed to this report.