26 more Canadians being contacted for ‘low-risk’ hantavirus exposure – CBC

Canada taking extra precautions for 26 additional residents possibly exposed to hantavirus

May 14, 2026

More Canadians are being contacted after having been on the same flights as a confirmed hantavirus case, according to federal health officials.

Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Joss Reimer said during a news conference Thursday that local public health units are contacting 26 people who were on the same planes as a hantavirus case. That case is stemming from the deadly hantavirus outbreak that started on board luxury cruise ship MV Hondius.

The 26 people are considered low-risk, said Reimer, because there’s no evidence that they sat near or had any direct or prolonged contact with the hantavirus case. Reimer did not say what provinces these people live in.

“Local public health is working to get in contact with all 26 of those individuals to ensure that they are aware that they were on that flight, that they have information about what symptoms they need to be watching for and that they are being monitored throughout the at-risk period,” said Reimer.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hantavirus-canada-outbreak-exposure-9.7199706