Experts: Hanta virus tests may not be useful for asymptomatic individuals

Toronto —
Public health experts said that conducting Hanta virus tests for asymptomatic individuals may not be useful at the moment, despite growing concerns following the outbreak linked to the cruise ship that witnessed deaths and injuries among passengers.

Specialists explained that laboratory tests for the Hanta virus are more accurate and effective when symptoms of the disease appear, while they may not provide conclusive results in asymptomatic individuals even if they have been exposed to the virus.

This comes at a time when Canadian health authorities continue to monitor passengers and contacts who returned to the country after the cruise, imposing precautionary monitoring and isolation measures for some cases related to the outbreak.

Experts indicate that the current priority is focused on monitoring the appearance of potential symptoms, such as fever, muscle pain, fatigue, and breathing problems, rather than conducting mass testing for all individuals who may have contacted infected persons.

They also explained that the Hanta virus is considered a rare disease, and the chances of its transmission within the community remain low, despite concerns related to the strain suspected to be linked to the current outbreak.

Public health teams continue to track contacts and provide medical guidance to returning travelers, while investigations continue to determine how the infection spread on the ship and whether additional cases may appear in the coming weeks.

Doctors confirm that individuals who were on the trip or contacted infected persons should closely monitor their health status and seek medical care immediately upon the appearance of any symptoms related to the virus, especially severe respiratory symptoms.