A Canadian isolating in British Columbia has tested presumptively positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, marking the first such case on Canadian soil linked to the deadly outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius. British Columbia Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry announced the development on 16 May 2026, confirming the patient was hospitalised after developing mild symptoms two days prior.
The affected individual is a Yukon resident who was among four Canadians repatriated from the MV Hondius after the ship docked in Tenerife, Spain, on 10 May. The person was transported to hospital for assessment and care on 14 May along with their spouse, who has also shown mild symptoms. Both remain in isolation in hospital.
