VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Canada’s nationwide well being company Sunday confirmed that certainly one of 4 Canadians who returned house from a cruise ship hit with a hantavirus outbreak has examined optimistic for the virus.
The Public Well being Company of Canada confirmed the optimistic take a look at a day after the general public well being officer for the province of British Columbia mentioned the individual had obtained a “presumptive optimistic” however additional testing can be carried out on the Nationwide Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg.
“One particular person’s pattern was confirmed optimistic for hantavirus,” the nationwide company mentioned in a press release.
A second particular person who was a touring companion of the confirmed case was confirmed unfavorable, the assertion mentioned. Each folks, a pair of their 70s from the Yukon, are in a hospital in Victoria.
The 4 Canadian cruise passengers returned to British Columbia final Sunday. In addition to the couple, there was an individual of their 70s from Vancouver Island and a British Columbia individual of their 50s who lives overseas.
All are in isolation.
Three folks have died because the hantavirus outbreak started on the cruise ship MV Hondius. The Canadian affected person is the tenth individual from the ship to check optimistic.
Among the many three who died are a Dutch couple who well being officers imagine have been the primary uncovered to the virus whereas visiting South America.
The Canadian public well being company mentioned it’s taking a precautionary strategy to make sure residents are protected.
“The general threat to the overall inhabitants in Canada from the Andes hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship stays low presently,” the assertion mentioned. “All confirmed instances up to now have been passengers or crew on the MV Hondius cruise ship.”
The company mentioned it supplied the details about the optimistic case to the World Well being Group and can share data to help the continuing international investigation of the outbreak.
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