OTTAWA — The number of Canadians connected to a hantavirus outbreak that began on a polar expedition cruise has grown to 10 as federal officials report three more people — two from Alberta and one from Ontario — may have had contact on a flight with someone infected.
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Joss Reimer provided the latest details at a Friday briefing about the MV Hondius cruise ship, which has been the focal point of international attention since an outbreak of the rodent-borne virus on the ship spread to eight people, killing three.
“At this time, the overall risk to the general population in connection with this outbreak of the Andes hantavirus is low. Onward spread within Canada is not expected, even if an infected individual were to arrive here. However, given the rarity of this virus, it is important that we take a precautionary approach to ensure that Canadians are protected,” Reimer said.
Reimer said the three Canadians were not on the Dutch-owned ship but they have been told to isolate until the risk of infection has passed.
They are in addition to the six Canadian passengers who were on the vessel.
Two of those passengers disembarked the cruise ship on the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena on April 24 and returned to Canada days later, before the outbreak was detected by the World Health Organization on May 2. They were among about 30 passengers who got off the boat that day, cruise operator Oceanwide Expeditions said.
Those two Canadians — a couple from Ontario — along with a third person from Quebec were on a flight to Johannesburg on April 25 and may have come into contact with a person showing hantavirus symptoms before returning to Canada on April 26 and April 27, respectively.
Public health officials say they are asymptomatic and self-isolating.
Earlier Friday, Ontario’s top doctor told The Canadian Press that the two residents in his province are in good spirits and showing no symptoms while they isolate for 45 days in their rural community in Grey Bruce Public Health Unit.
Dr. Kieran Moore said there is very little to no risk to the general public, but acknowledged that hearing words like “contact tracing” for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic can cause anxiety.
“I hope it doesn’t trigger too many individuals, but I do want to assure Ontarians we have a plan. We’re becoming experts in this type of activity on contact tracing, on monitoring, on testing, and ensuring Ontarians get the right care at the right time,” Moore said.
Four Canadians are still on board the ship carrying more than 140 asymptomatic passengers and crew. Federal officials would not say how the four will be travelling home, as they await information from health experts onboard conducting risk assessments. Reimer said her preference would be to charter a flight.
“We have no reason to believe that there’s any possibility that they could have spread the virus to anyone else en route to Canada, particularly given that they have actually been in Canada for over a week now and remain asymptomatic,” Reimer said.
A public health officer is travelling to the Canary Islands to ensure protocols are followed when the Canadians disembark. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand told The Canadian Press before the Friday briefing that a consular officer has already arrived in Tenerife.
“Between geographic teams, multiple consular and emergency management teams, missions abroad, HR staff (and) financial teams, there are at least 50 Global Affairs staff members working directly on this issue,” she added, citing Canada’s embassies in The Hague and Madrid.
A Canada Border Services Agency spokesman told The Canadian Press there are no enhanced measures at the border — but that could change if the Public Health Agency of Canada orders it. Officers determine entry on a case-by-case basis and the CBSA has given front-line staff information about hantavirus symptoms and sanitary measures to protect themselves.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2026.
Hannah Alberga, Dylan Robertson and Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
