WHO reaffirms public risk of hantavirus low, passengers returning home shortly

VIDEO: The World Health Organization is trying to soothe nerves, stressing the risk of the Andean strain of hantavirus to the general public is “low.” The WHO is preparing instructions for when the MV Hondius reaches Spain’s Canary Islands Sunday, when dozens of the ship’s remaining passengers will travel home. Three Canadians who were on the ship and left the vessel before the infection outbreak was declared are back in Canada self-isolating, two in Ontario and one in Quebec. The Canadians were among some 30 others who left the ship on April 24th, nearly two weeks after the first passenger had died on board. The federal government says it’s in contact with four other Canadians still on board the MV Hondius cruise and will send officials to the Canary Islands to monitor them.