Four Canadians who were aboard the cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak have safely returned to Canada and will continue strict quarantine measures in British Columbia, health officials confirmed Sunday.
The Canadians were among approximately 130 passengers evacuated from the MV Hondius after multiple hantavirus cases were identified on board earlier this month.
According to flight tracking data, the chartered aircraft carrying the passengers arrived in Victoria after making a stop in Saguenay.
Bonnie Henry said the passengers are asymptomatic and will remain under close medical supervision while completing their quarantine in British Columbia due to their connections with the province.
“This has undoubtedly been a stressful and difficult experience for the Canadians and everybody aboard the MV Hondius,” Henry told reporters during a Sunday briefing.
The passengers had already been isolating aboard the ship since early May after the World Health Organization declared an outbreak linked to the vessel.
Federal officials said the Canadians were transported home aboard a specially chartered aircraft organized by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Global Affairs Canada, with support from the Canadian Armed Forces.
Public health measures including masking, distancing and medical monitoring were maintained throughout the journey.
Health officials confirmed the passengers are expected to remain in supervised quarantine for more than two weeks, bringing their total isolation period to 21 days since May 6 — the last known exposure date linked to confirmed cases aboard the ship.
Authorities said the quarantine could be extended to a maximum of 42 days if deemed necessary.
Henry emphasized there is currently no risk to the public.
“They won’t be out in the community. They won’t be having contact with people. Our public health teams will be in contact with them every day,” she said.
Three passengers have died since the outbreak began, while five confirmed hantavirus infections were identified aboard the ship.
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially life-threatening disease typically spread through exposure to rodent droppings and contaminated particles. Unlike COVID-19, officials say it does not spread easily between people and is not considered a disease with pandemic potential.
Henry acknowledged public anxiety surrounding the outbreak due to lingering memories of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When I first heard about this … it made my stomach clench,” she admitted, while reassuring Canadians that health authorities have extensive experience handling such public health responses.
Additional Canadians in Ontario, Alberta and Quebec are also being monitored after possible exposure through travel-related contact with infected passengers.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reiterated Sunday that the overall public risk from the outbreak remains low.
The evacuation process in Tenerife involved strict biosecurity protocols, with passengers and personnel seen wearing protective suits, respirators and masks during disembarkation procedures.