Cleaning a shed, attic, cabin or barn? Protect against hantavirus | Interior Health
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British Columbia, CanadaConfidence 95%Jun 3, 2026
Interior Health in British Columbia advises residents to take precautions against hantavirus during spring cleaning, particularly in areas where deer mice are common, by ventilating spaces, wearing protective gear, and using disinfectants.
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- PrimaryCleaning a shed, attic, cabin or barn? Protect against hantavirus | Interior Health
interiorhealth.ca · 2026-06-03
Interior Health in British Columbia advises precautions against hantavirus during spring cleaning, especially in spaces like attics where deer mice are common. Infection can occur by inhaling airborne particles from dried rodent droppings and urine. Recommendations include ventilating spaces, wearing N95 masks and gloves, and using damp cloths with disinfectant instead of sweeping or vacuuming to avoid stirring up dust.
- Reference4 Canadians from hantavirus ship will be monitored for 42 days, B.C. doctor says
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-03
Four Canadians who were aboard the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius cruise ship arrived safely at Victoria International Airport in British Columbia and are undergoing a minimum 21-day isolation period, to be monitored for 42 days. All four individuals continue to be well and have no symptoms. Two are a couple in their 70s from Yukon Territory, one is a person in their 70s residing in the Island health region of British Columbia, and one is a person in their 50s from British Columbia who is currently living abroad. The Andes virus, found in South America, is the only hantavirus known to be capable of
- ReferenceAlbertans in isolation due to hantavirus exposure still healthy, officials say
cbc.ca · 2026-06-03
Two Albertans potentially exposed to hantavirus while traveling internationally, possibly linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak, remain asymptomatic and are isolating. Six other Canadians from the cruise ship are isolating in British Columbia and Ontario. Canadian cases are rare, and the local strain is not known to spread person-to-person, though the Andes virus from the cruise ship is.
- ReferenceRisks of a hantavirus infection - Canada.ca
canada.ca · 2026-06-03
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed one case of Andes hantavirus in Canada on May 17, 2026, from a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship in British Columbia. The overall risk to the general Canadian population remains low due to the requirement for prolonged, close contact for human-to-human transmission. Since 1994, 168 hantavirus cases have been confirmed in Canada, with an average of five new cases annually, mostly in western provinces.
- ReferenceSurveillance of hantavirus related diseases
vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com · 2026-06-03
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) confirmed on May 17, 2026, one case of Andes hantavirus in Canada through laboratory testing. This case, reported by the British Columbia Provincial Health Officer on May 16, was among the passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship. The individual and other potential contacts in Canada are following public health protocols and being monitored. PHAC states the overall risk to the general population in Canada remains low. The National Microbiology Laboratory conducts diagnostic testing and analyzes trends for hantavirus infections in humans.
Reminder
This report is an aggregated summary of public information for surveillance and awareness purposes only. It is not medical advice. For symptoms, exposure, or clinical decisions, contact a qualified clinician or your local public-health authority.