As of May 16, 2026, Canada has one presumptive positive hantavirus case linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak. The individual, a Yukon resident isolating in British Columbia, developed mild symptoms and tested presumptively positive; confirmatory National Microbiology Lab results are pending. Public health authorities are also following nine high-risk contacts and contacting 26 low-risk air passengers who shared flights with confirmed cases for symptom monitoring. All other monitored Canadians remain asymptomatic. PHAC and provincial officials continue to assess the risk to the general public as very low, with no evidence of community spread.
One Yukon resident isolating in British Columbia tested presumptively positive after mild symptoms; confirmatory National Microbiology Lab testing is pending. Canada is also tracking 9 high-risk contacts and 26 low-risk flight contacts. Other monitored people remain asymptomatic.
BC CDC / Dr. Bonnie Henry + PHAC + Canadian Press
British Columbia health officials report that one of the four high-risk Canadian passengers isolating in B.C. developed mild symptoms, including fever and headache, and received a presumptive positive Andes hantavirus test from the BC CDC. The person is a Yukon resident and is hospitalized in Victoria under appropriate isolation while confirmatory testing is pending at the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg. The person's partner tested negative.
Canada is following nine high-risk contacts across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, and possibly Quebec, including direct MV Hondius passengers and very close flight contacts. Public health authorities are also contacting 26 low-risk air passengers who shared flights with confirmed cases but were not seated nearby or in prolonged close contact. These low-risk passengers are being asked to monitor for symptoms; some provinces have taken extra precautions such as temporary self-isolation guidance.
Canada records rare cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome caused by Sin Nombre virus, which is rodent-borne and found mainly in western provinces. As of May 1, 2026, the National Microbiology Laboratory has confirmed a cumulative total of ~168 cases nationwide since active surveillance began in 1994. No new domestic outbreaks or spikes have been reported in 2026.
PHAC, BC CDC, and provincial public health teams continue contact tracing, active monitoring, and isolation support. Officials stress that Andes virus transmission requires close, prolonged contact and is distinct from Canada's endemic Sin Nombre virus. The situation is now in a monitoring and lab-confirmation phase, with no evidence of community spread and very low risk to the Canadian public.