British Columbia’s top doctor is set to outline plans on how the province will monitor the health of four people returning home from a cruise ship at the centre of a deadly hantavirus outbreak.
Dr. Bonnie Henry is expected to provide information at about 3 p.m.
“At no point during their arrival or isolation period will they be in contact with the public. They will be monitored daily by local public health teams to ensure that they remain well and are safely isolating,” said Henry in a statement.
The four individuals were aboard the MV Hondius when the outbreak began, with eight cases and three deaths reported of the hantavirus.
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The ship docked in Tenerife, Spain, on Sunday morning, and the four B.C. residents wore protective gear as they climbed the stairs of a plane bound for the Saguenay-Bagotville Airport, roughly two hours outside of Quebec City.
Oceanwide Expeditions, the ship’s owner, said there were four Canadians among the roughly 130 asymptomatic passengers.
The company says representatives from a number of groups, including the World Health Organization, screened passengers at the port.
After the four arrive at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville, Que., Global Affairs Canada says they will change planes for a flight to an airport in B.C.
From there, the patients will be assessed by local public health officials before leaving the airport to stay at a pre-determined location to self-isolate for a minimum of 21 days. This timeline dates back to May 6, the last day a confirmed case was on board the ship, Global Affairs Canada says.
Once this period ends, local public health officials will reassess the situation based on a health assessment of the four people. They will also use guidance from the World Health Organization to determine if there is a need for an extended period of self-isolation to a maximum of 42 days total since last potential exposure.
The Canadian Armed Forces is assisting Global Affairs Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada in repatriating the four Canadians, however, their assistance is limited to facilitating the transfer of the four people on a chartered return flight and their transfer from PHAC to provincial health authorities in B.C.
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