British Columbia health officials say the Canadian who contracted hantavirus during a cruise ship outbreak linked to an Antarctic voyage has fully recovered.
According to the Office of the Provincial Health Officer, the Yukon resident who tested positive for the virus was discharged from hospital late last week after receiving treatment.
Health authorities also reported that three other Canadians who may have been exposed to the virus aboard the expedition vessel MV Hondius remain in quarantine and have not developed any symptoms. The individuals are continuing to be monitored during a 42-day isolation period that began last month.
The outbreak occurred during the ship’s journey from Argentina to Antarctica after April 1, with exposure believed to have taken place during visits to remote South Atlantic islands.
The virus involved in the outbreak is the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare rodent-borne disease found in parts of South America. Unlike most hantaviruses, the Andes variant has shown limited potential for person-to-person transmission.
The Public Health Agency of Canada has stated that the overall risk to the Canadian public remains low, despite the international outbreak linked to the cruise ship.
Health officials continue to monitor those potentially exposed while emphasizing that no additional Canadian cases have been reported.
