Canada, May 18 : Canada has confirmed its first suspected case connected to the ongoing Andes hantavirus outbreak linked to a South American expedition cruise, raising concerns among health authorities and infectious disease experts worldwide. Officials in British Columbia said a passenger returning from the MV Hondius cruise ship tested positive after developing flu-like symptoms earlier this month.
The infected traveler is currently being treated in isolation in Victoria while additional laboratory testing is underway at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. Health authorities have also quarantined several other Canadian passengers who traveled aboard the vessel during the outbreak period.
The case has drawn international attention because the Andes strain of hantavirus is one of the few known variants capable of limited human-to-human transmission.
Cruise outbreak sparks international monitoring
The outbreak aboard the Dutch expedition vessel MV Hondius has already been associated with infections and deaths among travelers in Europe and South America. Investigators believe passengers may have been exposed during shore excursions in regions where rodents naturally carry the Andes hantavirus.
Unlike most hantavirus infections, which spread primarily through contact with infected rodent waste, the Andes strain has shown evidence of transmission between close human contacts. Scientists say this unusual characteristic has increased concern surrounding the cruise-linked cluster.
Canadian officials stressed that the risk to the wider public remains low. However, health agencies are continuing contact tracing and medical surveillance to prevent further spread.
Understanding hantavirus and its symptoms
Hantavirus infections are typically caused by exposure to particles contaminated with rodent urine, saliva, or droppings. Once inhaled, the virus can lead to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory illness that can rapidly become life-threatening.
Early symptoms often resemble influenza and include fever, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, and extreme fatigue. In severe cases, patients can develop breathing difficulties, fluid buildup in the lungs, and respiratory failure.
Medical experts note that the Andes variant, mainly found in Chile and Argentina, carries a higher level of concern because of its rare ability to spread among humans in close-contact situations.
New study raises questions about long-term persistence
Fresh scientific research has intensified discussion around the virus after researchers discovered Andes hantavirus genetic material in human semen nearly six years after infection.
The peer-reviewed study, conducted by scientists at Switzerland’s Spiez Laboratory and published in 2023, tracked a man infected during travel in South America. Researchers found that while the virus disappeared from his blood, respiratory tract, and urine during recovery, viral RNA remained detectable in semen 71 months later.
Scientists clarified that the findings only confirmed the presence of viral genetic fragments, not active infectious virus. Still, the discovery has prompted new research into whether the virus could persist in reproductive tissues for extended periods.
Experts explained that the testes are considered “immune-privileged” areas of the body, meaning certain viruses can evade immune defenses there. Similar persistence has previously been observed with viruses such as Ebola and Zika.
Can hantavirus remain infectious after recovery?
Researchers say there is currently no confirmed evidence of sexual transmission of hantavirus. However, the latest findings have encouraged scientists to further investigate whether long-term viral persistence could create rare transmission risks.
Outside the human body, hantavirus can survive for several days in cool and enclosed environments contaminated by rodent waste. According to health organizations, the virus may remain active for up to four days under favorable conditions.
Inside recovered patients, however, evidence suggests the infectious virus usually clears relatively quickly from blood and lung tissues. Scientists caution that detecting viral RNA alone does not necessarily mean a person remains contagious.
Why experts say this is not another pandemic threat
Despite growing public attention, infectious disease specialists say hantavirus is very different from COVID-19. The virus does not spread easily through casual contact, and outbreaks are generally small and linked to direct exposure sources.
Health authorities worldwide continue to identify rodent exposure as the primary transmission route. However, experts acknowledge that confined travel environments, including cruise ships, can create unusual conditions that may increase the possibility of close-contact transmission for the Andes strain.
Canadian officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely while coordinating with international health agencies to assess the outbreak and determine whether additional containment measures are necessary.