Two Albertans came in contact with hantavirus on international flight

Canadian health officials are monitoring two people in Alberta for possible exposure to the rare hantavirus linked to an outbreak aboard a cruise ship, even as the country’s top doctor stresses that the overall public risk remains very low.

Dr. Joss Reimer, Canada’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, says health officials are currently assessing three individuals who may have had brief contact with an infected person on separate flights — two are in Alberta, and one is in Ontario.

Alberta’s Ministry of Primary and Preventative Health Services confirmed two residents came in contact with someone who went on to be diagnosed with the virus. A statement says both people have been contacted and are at home monitoring for symptoms.

“We will continue to monitor the situation, work closely with federal counterparts, and take any additional steps necessary to protect public health,” reads a statement from Tom McMillen, the ministry’s director of communications.

The exposed Albertans were not among the initial group of six Canadians on the cruise ship but are believed to have encountered an infected passenger during their travels.

The province says they cannot share what health zone the two are in due to patient confidentiality

Reimer says the rodent-borne Andes virus associated with the outbreak on the MV Hondius is not naturally found in Canada, which significantly reduces the likelihood of local transmission.

“At this point we have no reason to believe that they could have spread the virus to anyone else on their way to Canada,” says Reimer. “We have connected to the provinces who have travellers in their jurisdictions.

“Each one has come up with a plan, where they’ve identified a specific hospital that has the capabilities to manage a complex virus like this.”

No Canadians have shown symptoms so far.

Hanatavirus-hit cruise ship heads for Canary Islands

Six Canadians were aboard the affected cruise ship. Two returned to Canada, along with a third person, on April 26 and 27 before the outbreak was identified — two are isolating in Ontario, and one is isolating in Quebec.

Four more Canadians remain on the ship and are currently symptom‑free. Canadian consular officials are coordinating support as the ship heads toward the Canary Islands.

The incubation period for this strain of hantavirus ranges from one to six weeks, according to Reimer, and in rare cases it can be even longer. That means additional cases could still appear, though the risk remains low.

The Andes virus is the only hantavirus known to be capable of limited human-to-human transmission.

Spanish authorities have agreed to allow the MV Hondius to dock in the Canary Islands on the condition that each country takes responsibility for its own citizens. Canada is working with Spain to ensure passengers can disembark safely and receive medical care if needed.

With files from The Canadian Press