Canadians exposed to hantavirus on cruise ship complete isolation period

The rare illness was confirmed after the deaths of 3 passengers on the MV Hondius earlier this year

All Canadians who were exposed to the Andes hantavirus earlier this year linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship have finished their self-isolation period, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada said on social media Monday.

Four Canadians were presumed to have been exposed to the rare virus aboard the luxury ship and immediately went into isolation upon returning to Canada May 10.

One of them, a traveller from the Yukon, subsequently tested positive for the virus, but fully recovered earlier this month.

Canadian cruise passenger who tested positive for hantavirus has recovered, health officials say

Spanish passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship tests positive for hantavirus

Three people died in the outbreak, and epidemiologists confirmed at least 11 cases of hantavirus connected to the cruise ship.

It's believed the outbreak originated in Argentina. A Dutch couple that died in April are believed to have contracted the virus before they boarded the cruise ship in the Argentine city of Ushuaia.

Lab confirms hantavirus in Canadian cruise passenger

The vessel, which began its journey from Argentina April 1, eventually docked May 10 in Tenerife, Spain, where all passengers and most crew disembarked and immediately went into quarantine in their respective home countries.

Hantavirus is relatively rare. In North America, it is usually contracted by inhaling contaminated residue from rodent droppings.

Hantavirus-stricken cruise ship docks in the Netherlands for disinfection

Hantavirus has no cure. Here's where researchers are at with treatments and vaccines

But health officials believe the Andes strain, involved in the Hondius outbreak, can be transmitted between people where there has been prolonged close contact.

With files from Jennifer La Grassa and Simon Little