Two Ontario residents who had been on board the MV Hondius cruise ship during a hantavirus outbreak remain asymptomatic in Grey-Bruce County, according to Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore.
Asymptomatic Observation Period
The pair arrived back home on April 25 and are being observed for a 45-day period, which is the longest potential incubation period for the hantavirus, Moore told CP24. He emphasized that it is unlikely they have passed the virus to anyone since returning, as there is no indication they are infected.
"Thankfully, they remain asymptomatic, and this is many days out from their travel and return to Ontario, so we have good assurance that they had not inadvertently spread any risk to the general public, and we remain in daily contact with them if they do develop symptoms," Moore said.
Exposure Details
Moore explained that the couple disembarked in late April on the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, then flew to Johannesburg on the same flight as an infected person, meaning they were exposed in two separate locations.
Four Canadians Still Aboard Ship
Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the MV Hondius, reported that four Canadians remain on the ship, none of whom are from Ontario. The ship had been traveling from Southern Argentina to Cape Verde, Africa, where it is currently docked.
Hantavirus Outbreak Fatalities
Three people—a Dutch couple and a German national—have died in the hantavirus outbreak that began in early April. There have been eight reported cases, with five confirmed and three suspected.
Coordination and Response
Moore noted that public health leaders across Canada met virtually on Thursday to coordinate efforts. "I hope it doesn't trigger too many individuals, but I do want to assure Ontarians we have a plan," he said. "We're becoming experts in this type of activity on contact tracing, on monitoring, on testing, and ensuring Ontarians get the right care at the right time."
Canadian consular officials plan to meet with the ship when it docks in Granadilla, Tenerife in the Canary Islands this weekend.
