Speaking Remarks for the Chief Public Health Officer
Speech
Hantavirus Technical Briefing
May 14, 2026
11 am EST
Thank you for joining us today.
Before we begin, I want to acknowledge that we are gathered on the unceded traditional territory of the Anishinaabe Algonquin Nation. I would like to take this moment to reflect on the history of Indigenous people and to honour the original stewards of the lands where we live and work.
Situation Update
Since the last technical briefing, the Andes hantavirus outbreak associated with the MV Hondius has continued to evolve. I am pleased to provide you with an update on the situation.
At the outset I want to be clear with Canadians: The overall risk to the general population in Canada in connection with this Andes hantavirus event remains low at this time, but given the severity of this virus, we are taking a precautionary approach to ensure Canadians are protected.
On May 10, four Canadian passengers on the MV Hondius returned to British Columbia. Throughout their journey and upon their arrival, public health precautions and health assessments took place. The individuals were transferred to dedicated lodgings to complete their self-isolation. All four remain asymptomatic and are being actively monitored and supported by local public health authorities.
Public Health Response and Risk Assessment
This outbreak response and the repatriation of passengers from the ship has required an incredible amount of organization and international and domestic collaboration.
Thank you to my counterparts in the provinces and territories, in particular British Columbia public health partners, for supporting the four individuals during their self-isolation period. Also, thank you to Ontario, Alberta and Quebec for their work as key partners in this national approach.
We appreciate the rapid efforts of our federal partners at Global Affairs Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, Transport Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, and our international partners, in particular the Government of Spain and the World Health Organization, for your collaboration.
Contact Management and Monitoring
We have adapted the 'WHO guidance for public health management of contacts' to the Canadian context and shared it with provincial and territorial public health partners.
While risk assessments conducted on the ship identified all Canadians as low risk, we have taken a precautionary approach and are considering all passengers and crew from the MV Hondius to be high risk contacts, as well as passengers who sat close to one of the cases with hantavirus who was on a flight, until local public health can complete their own risk assessments.
In addition to the four passengers who returned on May 10, there are five other high-risk contacts within Canada who are considered as having been potentially exposed to confirmed cases of Andes hantavirus including:
- two individuals who were aboard the MV Hondius, but disembarked before the outbreak was first identified and who were on a flight where they may have been potentially exposed to a confirmed case; and
- three individuals who were potentially exposed to a confirmed Andes hantavirus case on a flight.
These five individuals remain asymptomatic and are being monitored and supported by local public health authorities.
Last Friday, I spoke of an additional person in Canada who, at that time, was considered as potentially having been exposed on a flight. However, based on the assessment by local public health this individual is no longer considered to be a high-risk contact.
In Canada, low risk contacts are individuals who were on a flight with a case of Andes hantavirus but have no known direct or prolonged close interaction.
We were also notified of an additional 26 travellers who were on the flights but deemed by local European public health as being "no risk". Again, as we are taking a precautionary approach in Canada, and have deemed them to be minimal, rather than no risk. Provinces and territories are undertaking the work to contact these 26 individuals to provide them with information and monitor them.
As the situation continues to evolve, the number of individuals for public health follow-up in Canada related to the outbreak of Andes hantavirus may change over time and our response will evolve accordingly.
Provincial and local public health authorities continue to do in depth risk assessments, and the final self-isolation duration may be adjusted as we learn more about the risks involved.
I would also like to flag that we do not have evidence that this virus can spread from asymptomatic people. And so, we are not concerned about contacts of contacts at this time, only individuals who have been exposed to a confirmed or probable case of hantavirus.
All of this has been discussed with my counterparts in the provinces and territories, we are aligned in our approaches and continue active dialogue to support our collective response.
Any contact who displays symptoms will be tested. PHAC's National Microbiology Laboratory stands ready to provide testing, and has been collaborating with provinces, through the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network, to provide testing capacity and support.
If cases are identified in Canada, PHAC has already worked with provinces and territories to identify healthcare facilities that have the capability to manage hantavirus cases.
International and Domestic Coordination
In addition to monitoring contacts in Canada, the Government of Canada is also working closely with public health authorities, air carriers, and border officials to implement precautionary measures that will prevent all passenger or crew that were aboard the MV Hondius since its April 1, 2026, departure from Argentina from boarding flights to Canada. These measures will be in place until the WHO-recommended 42-day self-isolation period has passed, and will help reduce the risk of the Andes hantavirus being introduced into Canada.
This outbreak underscores the vital importance of maintaining strong international ties. Next week, the 79th World Health Assembly takes place in Geneva. This is an opportunity for myself, the Minister of Health and other delegates to reaffirm Canada's commitment to strong global leadership and collaboration on health priorities. While in Geneva, I will be discussing hantavirus with my WHO counterparts and will continue to be involved in the hantavirus response here in Canada and will be supported in Canada by Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, as acting Chief Public Health Officer.
Hantavirus
Cases of person-to-person transmission of Andes hantavirus have been reported, but are rare and generally, require close, prolonged contact with someone who is sick. As such, the Andes hantavirus is very different from COVID-19. But with memories of the height of COVID-19 being very fresh, it makes sense that many Canadians are feeling anxious about this and so I want to be clear that both PHAC and public health authorities globally are consistent that hantavirus is not considered to pose a pandemic risk.
Given the incubation period for the Andes hantavirus, which ranges from one to six weeks, with incubation periods up to eight weeks having been reported, it is possible that additional cases may emerge, particularly related to exposures that occurred before containment measures were implemented.
Conclusion
In closing, I want to reiterate that we have robust processes and procedures in place and further spread of the virus within Canada is not expected, but we are taking this situation very seriously our commitment to the health of Canadians both here and abroad.
We will continue to provide updates on the measures being taken to protect the health of people in Canada.
Again, I want to thank my provincial and territorial colleagues as well as our federal and international partners for their continued support and collaboration.
Thank you. Merci. Miigwetch.