British Columbia’s provincial health officer says none of the Canadians who were on a ship struck by an outbreak of deadly hantavirus had known direct contact with anyone who was infected.
But Dr. Bonnie Henry says it’s impossible to be completely sure, and four people from the ship who were flown to Victoria on Sunday are now isolating on Vancouver Island for a minimum of 21 days.
She says the four people are a couple in their 70s from the Yukon, a person in their 70s from Vancouver Island, and a B.C. person in their 50s who lives abroad, and all are well and have no symptoms.
Henry says they are isolating in three separate locations, with the Vancouver Island person back at their home.
She says another two passengers on the ship were from Ontario, while four other Canadians are regarded as potential contacts, and all are asymptomatic.
Henry says the arrival of the four ship passengers in B.C. was “seamless and smooth” and they were screened and assessed by health staff dressed in protective gear.
— With files from Allison Jones
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2026.
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