A Canadian passenger who sailed on a cruise ship linked to a deadly hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the disease, sources confirm. The individual, who had been on a voyage that included stops in several countries, was screened upon arrival in the UK and the results came back positive this morning. British health authorities have immediately activated strict quarantine protocols, cordoning off the passenger and tracing close contacts.
Details remain scarce, but internal documents show that the ship had reported several cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome among crew members before docking in a Canadian port last week. The virus, which is carried by rodents and can be fatal in up to 40% of cases, is highly unusual for a cruise ship environment. This has raised questions about sanitation standards on the vessel and whether the cruise line failed to report the extent of the outbreak.
A senior source at Public Health England confirmed that the infected individual is now in isolation at a specialist unit near London. “We are taking every precaution to prevent any spread. This is a serious public health incident.” The news has sent alarm through the travel industry, with several airlines already reporting cancelled bookings.
The cruise company, whose name is being withheld pending official confirmation, has not yet issued a statement. But a leaked internal memo from the ship’s medical officer warns that conditions onboard “are conducive to a major outbreak.” The memo claims that rodent infestations were reported weeks before the first passenger fell ill.
This is a breaking story. More details to follow.
