Ten Linked to Hantavirus Cruise Return to Canada

Ten individuals linked to a hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship have returned to Canada, raising public health alerts over the rare human-transmissible strain. The Andes variant, carried by rodents such as mice and rats, infected passengers during the voyage and marks the only hantavirus type among dozens known to spread person-to-person.

Health officials note the virus has an incubation period of up to eight weeks, averaging two to three weeks before symptoms appear. The World Health Organization advises a 42-day quarantine. No specific antiviral treatments or vaccines exist, leaving supportive care as the primary option. The group includes six former passengers and four others potentially exposed during subsequent flights.

Separate developments across Canada highlight ongoing economic, technological and cultural shifts. At the 25th annual Canadian Telecom Summit in Toronto, global research from Ipsos Canada revealed nearly half of telecom customers reject artificial intelligence for phone and internet services, though some accept it for simple tasks like settings adjustments or bill reminders. Cameron McFadyen, Ipsos vice-president for Western Canada, said...