Quebecer potentially exposed to hantavirus no longer isolating: Health Department

MONTREAL – Quebec’s Health Department says a resident of the province who was possibly exposed to hantavirus is no longer required to isolate.

The person is one of several Canadians with connections to a deadly outbreak of the rodent-borne virus that began on the MV Hondius cruise ship.

Marie-Claude Lacasse with the Health Department says the person is not presenting symptoms and their potential exposure to hantavirus is considered low risk.

She says the person will continue to monitor their symptoms and is in contact with regional health authorities.

The Quebecer was asked to isolate last week after they took the same flight as someone with a confirmed case of hantavirus.

Four Canadians who were on the MV Hondius are in quarantine in British Columbia while the Quebecer and several others who weren’t on the ship were asked to isolate after they were potentially exposed.

Three cruise ship passengers have died, and six people with confirmed or suspected cases of hantavirus are being quarantined as of Monday, according to the World Health Organization.

Lacasse says there are currently no Quebecers isolating in connection with the cruise ship outbreak.

“The person who was identified as a possible contact last week is still presenting no symptoms and their isolation was lifted considering the contact was judged to be low risk, in conformity with WHO recommendations,” she wrote in an email.

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“This person will still monitor their symptoms until 42 days post-trip.”

The WHO’s website recommends “active monitoring and home or facility quarantine” in the case of high-risk contacts. It does not recommend quarantine for low-risk contacts, but suggests that they should undertake “passive self-monitoring” and seek medical attention if symptoms develop.

An infection can rapidly progress and become life-threatening. Experts say it can start with symptoms including fever, chills, muscle aches and maybe a headache — much like the flu.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 11, 2026.

— With a file from The Associated Press