A third Ontario resident is now self-isolating and being monitored for possible hantavirus exposure in Peel Region, Health Minister Sylvia Jones confirmed Monday, as public health officials continue tracking contacts linked to a deadly outbreak connected to the MV Hondius cruise ship.
Ontario health officials said Friday that two people from the same household in the Grey-Bruce counties area were already isolating. Jones said Monday the couple remains without symptoms and continues to be monitored by their local public health unit.
Peel Region Resident Under Public Health Monitoring
“The couple in Gray-Bruce absolutely is still self-isolating. They continue to be asymptomatic and obviously the local public health unit is monitoring closely,” Jones said Monday. “We do have a third individual in the Peel Region who is also isolating and being monitored by the local public health unit.”
Federal health officials said Friday that a third person from Ontario may have had brief contact with a confirmed hantavirus case on a flight. At the time, they did not identify where in Ontario the person lived.
Jones’ comments now place that individual in Peel Region, one of the most populated areas in the Greater Toronto Area.
Hantavirus Outbreak Linked To MV Hondius Cruise Ship
Health officials have stressed that hantavirus is rare and does not spread easily from person to person. The World Health Organization says the disease usually spreads through contact with the urine, feces or saliva of infected rats.
The current outbreak has been associated with the Atlantic cruise ship MV Hondius. So far, eight cases have been reported in connection with the outbreak, including three deaths.
Ontario Using 45-Day Monitoring Period
Ontario health officials have said they received best practices from Argentina on possible hantavirus incubation periods, since that country has more experience managing the virus.
Based on that guidance, Ontario plans to monitor contacts for 45 days.
Public health units in Grey-Bruce and Peel Region will continue monitoring the three Ontario residents as officials assess any possible risk tied to the cruise ship outbreak and related travel exposure.
