Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said one of the four people who were in quarantine in the Island Health region has tested positive for the Andes strain of hantavirus, after a cruise ship was struck with the virus earlier this month.
The four arrived at Victoria International Airport on Sunday, May 10, and have been under an isolation order that was supposed to last 21 days. Two of them are a couple in their 70s from the Yukon, another person is in their 70s and from the Island, and the fourth person is in their 50s and from B.C. but living abroad.
“Clearly this is not what we hoped for, but it is what we planned for,” said Henry at a press conference on Saturday, May 16.
The individual, a member of the couple who was in isolation in Victoria with their spouse, took a test on Friday after feeling mild symptoms – resulting in a “presumptive positive” for the virus from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control. The province is still waiting for confirmatory results from the National Microbiology Lab this weekend.
“The patient is stable, the symptoms remain mild at this point and they are still in hospital, in isolation, being monitored and receiving care as needed by the healthcare worker team in the hospital,” said Henry.
The other member of the couple ended up testing negative, though they had experienced mild symptoms.
Dr. Reka Gustafson, Island Health’s chief medical officer, said despite the situation, Victoria’s hospitals are safe and residents should not delay getting medical help if needed.
“Some people wonder whether caring for an infected patient in our hospital will affect your care, or the services that are available to you. I Wanted to let you know there is absolutely no need to delay seeking care from Island Health today should you or your family need it. Our hospital care for patients with serious medical conditions, including infections, everyday,” she said.
The couple and one other person are in isolation in Victoria hospitals right now, while the other person is in quarantine in their home.