Canadian Health Officials Confirm Hantavirus Case Linked to Cruise Ship Outbreak
Canadian health authorities have confirmed a hantavirus case linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has been at the center of an international outbreak. The Public Health Agency of Canada verified that one of the four Canadians who returned from the cruise tested positive for hantavirus. This confirmation follows a previous description of the case as a 'presumptive positive' by British Columbia's top public health officer. The outbreak, which has resulted in three deaths, has been closely monitored by global health officials. As of May 13, the World Health Organization reported 11 cases associated with the cruise, including eight confirmed cases. The outbreak began after the Dutch cruise ship departed Argentina on April 1 for a South Atlantic voyage. Despite the outbreak, no confirmed U.S. cases tied to the cruise have been reported, although one U.S.-repatriated passenger had inconclusive test results. 
