A Yukon resident who contracted hantavirus after travelling aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship has recovered and has been discharged from a hospital in Victoria, according to British Columbia health officials.

In a statement released Monday, the office of Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry confirmed that the patient left hospital late last week after recovering from the illness. The individual, a woman in her 70s from Yukon, became sick after arriving in British Columbia following the evacuation of passengers from the vessel.

Three other Canadians linked to the same cruise remain under quarantine but have not developed symptoms.

The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius experienced a hantavirus outbreak in April while sailing near Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa. Health authorities believe the initial exposure occurred during a hiking excursion in Argentina before the cruise began.

According to the World Health Organization, 13 cases and three deaths had been linked to the outbreak as of May 28.

Passengers on the vessel were forced to remain on board for several days while officials worked to determine where the ship could safely dock. After reaching Spain's Canary Islands, travellers were eventually allowed to disembark.

Four Canadians were flown back to Vancouver Island on May 10 aboard a chartered aircraft arranged by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

The group included a couple in their 70s from Yukon, a Vancouver Island resident in their 70s and a British Columbian in their 50s who lives abroad. Upon arrival, they entered quarantine in pre-arranged accommodations, except for the Vancouver Island resident, who isolated at home.

About one week later, Dr. Henry confirmed that one of the Yukon residents had developed mild symptoms, including fever and headache. Testing later confirmed infection with the Andes strain of hantavirus, the same variant associated with the cruise ship outbreak.

That patient has now fully recovered and been released from hospital.

Health officials said the three remaining contacts are being monitored daily by Island Health public health teams.

"All three remain asymptomatic," Dr. Henry's office said.

The quarantine period for hantavirus exposure lasts 42 days, reflecting the virus's maximum incubation period. Officials expect the current isolation measures to end around June 21.

Hantavirus is typically transmitted through contact with the urine, saliva or droppings of infected rodents. Symptoms often begin with fever, fatigue and gastrointestinal illness, but the disease can progress rapidly to pneumonia, respiratory distress and shock.

Human-to-human transmission is considered uncommon. However, the Andes strain identified in this outbreak is one of the few forms of the virus known to spread between people.

Provincial and federal health authorities continue to closely monitor the remaining travellers and have stressed that no additional illnesses have been reported among the Canadian group.

The recovery of the hospitalized patient marks a positive development following the international outbreak, while public health teams remain focused on completing the quarantine period and ensuring that any potential cases are identified quickly.

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