Science & Environment
- Thread starter socratus
- Start date
Scientists discover giant ‘kraken-like’ octopus existed millions of years ago
But thanks to new technologies, researchers are gaining insight into animals like the octopus that left fewer traces behind
Author of the article
enette Wilford
Published Apr 24, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read
This illustration provided by researchers in April 2026 depicts a giant octopus that may have been a top marine predator millions of years ago.
This illustration provided by researchers in April 2026 depicts a giant octopus that may have been a top marine predator millions of years ago. Photo by Yohei Utsuki /AP
A kraken-like octopus that could grow to more than 18 metres long may have been one of the fiercest predators in the oceans, according to scientists.
New research out of Japan’s Hokkaido University is challenging the notion that octopuses were not among the main marine predators during the Late Cretaceous period, when Tyrannosaurus rex and Giganotosaurus roamed and ruled the planet.
The scientists studied dozens of jaw fossils of ancient octopus relatives, and found that two now-extinct species — Nanaimoteuthis jeletzkyi and N. haggarti — reached lengths between seven and 19 metres, rivalling other giant marine reptiles of the time.
Why have the octopus been overlooked?
“Some of the earliest octopuses were much larger than we had imagined,” Yasuhiro Iba, a professor at Hokkaido University and co-author of the study, told the Washington Post.
“Invertebrates — especially soft-bodied animals like octopuses — have remained largely invisible in the fossil record, and their ecological roles have been poorly understood.”
That’s because soft-bodied animals rarely fossilize, resulting in paleontologists historically focusing on organisms with hard skeletons or shells.
But thanks to new technologies, researchers are gaining insight into animals like the octopus that left fewer traces behind.
“In that sense, we are just beginning to see parts of ancient ecosystems that were previously almost invisible,” Iba said.
Size isn’t the only thing that matters
And what they found in the recent octopus discovery was so much more than just their colossal size.
“The novelty of our study is not simply that ‘large octopuses existed,” Iba noted. “Rather, by analyzing the intense wear preserved on their jaws, the research team was able to demonstrate that these octopuses were capable of processing hard prey such as shells and bones, and may have reached a similar ecological level to large vertebrate apex predators in the Cretaceous ocean.”
The evidence of chipping, scratching, cracking and polishing on the jaws “indicates repeated, forceful interactions with their prey, revealing an unexpectedly aggressive feeding strategy,” Iba added in a news release.
The massive mollusks may have eaten large aquatic reptiles like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, two species which were believed to be the main marine predators of the period.
Instead, the octopus’s beaks and jaws, in addition to their powerful arms, which allowed them to grab prey more easily, may have made them formidable rulers of the oceans.
In comparison, the largest octopus alive today is the giant Pacific octopus, which typically measures at just under five metres in size, according to National Geographic.
While it has been known to eat larger animals like sharks and birds, its typical diet consists of shrimp, clams, lobster and fish.
The fossils were discovered in Japan and Vancouver Island, according to the release, with the team using grinding tomography, a 3D imaging technique, along with an artificial intelligence model, to carry out the research.
nationalgeographic.com
torontosun.com
But thanks to new technologies, researchers are gaining insight into animals like the octopus that left fewer traces behind
Author of the article
enette WilfordPublished Apr 24, 2026 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read
This illustration provided by researchers in April 2026 depicts a giant octopus that may have been a top marine predator millions of years ago.
This illustration provided by researchers in April 2026 depicts a giant octopus that may have been a top marine predator millions of years ago. Photo by Yohei Utsuki /AP
A kraken-like octopus that could grow to more than 18 metres long may have been one of the fiercest predators in the oceans, according to scientists.
New research out of Japan’s Hokkaido University is challenging the notion that octopuses were not among the main marine predators during the Late Cretaceous period, when Tyrannosaurus rex and Giganotosaurus roamed and ruled the planet.
The scientists studied dozens of jaw fossils of ancient octopus relatives, and found that two now-extinct species — Nanaimoteuthis jeletzkyi and N. haggarti — reached lengths between seven and 19 metres, rivalling other giant marine reptiles of the time.
Why have the octopus been overlooked?
“Some of the earliest octopuses were much larger than we had imagined,” Yasuhiro Iba, a professor at Hokkaido University and co-author of the study, told the Washington Post.
“Invertebrates — especially soft-bodied animals like octopuses — have remained largely invisible in the fossil record, and their ecological roles have been poorly understood.”
That’s because soft-bodied animals rarely fossilize, resulting in paleontologists historically focusing on organisms with hard skeletons or shells.
But thanks to new technologies, researchers are gaining insight into animals like the octopus that left fewer traces behind.
“In that sense, we are just beginning to see parts of ancient ecosystems that were previously almost invisible,” Iba said.
Size isn’t the only thing that matters
And what they found in the recent octopus discovery was so much more than just their colossal size.
“The novelty of our study is not simply that ‘large octopuses existed,” Iba noted. “Rather, by analyzing the intense wear preserved on their jaws, the research team was able to demonstrate that these octopuses were capable of processing hard prey such as shells and bones, and may have reached a similar ecological level to large vertebrate apex predators in the Cretaceous ocean.”
The evidence of chipping, scratching, cracking and polishing on the jaws “indicates repeated, forceful interactions with their prey, revealing an unexpectedly aggressive feeding strategy,” Iba added in a news release.
The massive mollusks may have eaten large aquatic reptiles like mosasaurs and plesiosaurs, two species which were believed to be the main marine predators of the period.
Instead, the octopus’s beaks and jaws, in addition to their powerful arms, which allowed them to grab prey more easily, may have made them formidable rulers of the oceans.
In comparison, the largest octopus alive today is the giant Pacific octopus, which typically measures at just under five metres in size, according to National Geographic.
While it has been known to eat larger animals like sharks and birds, its typical diet consists of shrimp, clams, lobster and fish.
The fossils were discovered in Japan and Vancouver Island, according to the release, with the team using grinding tomography, a 3D imaging technique, along with an artificial intelligence model, to carry out the research.
Giant Pacific Octopus | National Geographic
Meet the world's largest octopus, which can tip the scales at over 600 pounds. Hear about the amazing feats of these highly intelligent animals.
nationalgeographic.com
Scientists discover giant ‘kraken-like’ octopus existed millions of years ago
A kraken-like octopus that could grow to more than 18 metres long may have been one of the fiercest predators in the oceans. Read on.
Canada marks vaccination week amid 'sobering' return of measles
For the first time in 24 years, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) came to Ottawa to launch vaccination week in the Americas — a nod to Canada’s recent loss of measles elimination status
Author of the article:Elizabeth Payne
Published Apr 27, 2026 • 3 minute read
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel, seen in a February 2026 file photo, called the loss of measles elimination status sobering. “It is a difficult wake-up call because in Canada we believe in science and we value our scientists," she said. "But we need to take action, including building trust in vaccine through community engagement.”
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel, seen in a February 2026 file photo, called the loss of measles elimination status sobering. “It is a difficult wake-up call because in Canada we believe in science and we value our scientists," she said. "But we need to take action, including building trust in vaccine through community engagement.” Photo by Blair Gable /Postmedia
Five months after Canada lost its measles-free status, the annual week devoted to vaccination awareness is taking on a new significance.
For the first time in 24 years, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) came to Ottawa to launch vaccination week in the Americas — a nod to Canada’s recent loss of measles elimination status and a chance to reaffirm the importance of keeping vaccination rates high. The event, hosted by CHEO president and CEO Dr. Vera Etches, was held Monday, April 27, at Library and Archives Canada and livestreamed around the Americas.
PAHO, which serves as the World Health Organization’s regional office for the Americas, revoked Canada’s measles-free status last November after a year-long outbreak resulted in more than 5,000 cases of the highly infectious disease. So far in 2026, there have been 871 cases across the country.
The measles vaccine is highly effective, but, because the disease is so contagious, 95 per cent of the population must be immunized to prevent outbreaks. Vaccination rates have steadily declined in Canada in recent years and remain below the threshold — in part due to disruptions caused by the pandemic as well as the rise of misinformation and poor access to primary care.
As of the end of 2024, just over 80 per cent of two-year-olds in Canada were adequately vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, according to Health Canada.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel, speaking at the event, called the loss of measles elimination status sobering.
“It is a difficult wake-up call because in Canada we believe in science and we value our scientists. But we need to take action, including building trust in vaccine through community engagement.”
She said the federal government is working with provinces and territories, as well as agencies, to better understand the barriers to higher immunization rates in order to regain measles elimination status and increase vaccination rates.
Dr. Anne Pham-Huy
Dr. Anne Pham-Huy, chair of Immunize Canada and a pediatric infectious disease physician at CHEO, is optimistic Canada can regain its measles elimination status, “but it is not going to be easy”. Photo by CHEO /Handout
“Together we are going to make sure that our children are going to receive all the vaccines that they need to protect themselves from diseases. Canada is firmly committed to advancing vaccination as a cornerstone of public health, both internationally and domestically.”
Canada’s newly appointed chief public health officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, called measles elimination a “deeply personal topic for me”.
She grew up in Winkler, Man., which currently has one of the highest rates of measles in the country and, at one point, had the highest rate of measles in the Americas.
Reimer noted that the majority of recent cases in Canada have been in highly connected, under-vaccinated communities, including Winkler.
“This moment is very important for us,” she said. “This is a stark reminder of our continued vulnerability to disease.”
PAHO provided recommendations in order to help Canada regain measles elimination status. Those include strengthening monitoring and data sharing, combatting misinformation and addressing immunity gaps.
Health Canada says it is strengthening approaches that target under-vaccinated and vaccine-hesitant populations.
Canada’s lack of a comprehensive national immunization registry has been criticized by health experts and others as a critical public health gap that creates a barrier to understanding vaccination coverage and trends.
Dr. Anne Pham-Huy, chair of Immunize Canada and a pediatric infectious disease physician at CHEO, said a national registry would make it easier to increase vaccination rates by making it easier to know where the potential pockets of underimmunization are.
She said she is optimistic Canada can regain its measles elimination status, “but it is not going to be easy and it definitely will require collaboration.
“In 2026, we are being reminded that progress in public health can never be taken for granted,” she said. “The recent loss of measles elimination status in Canada shows how quickly vaccine-preventable diseases can return when vaccination rates fall and misinformation spreads.”
torontosun.com
For the first time in 24 years, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) came to Ottawa to launch vaccination week in the Americas — a nod to Canada’s recent loss of measles elimination status
Author of the article:Elizabeth Payne
Published Apr 27, 2026 • 3 minute read
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel, seen in a February 2026 file photo, called the loss of measles elimination status sobering. “It is a difficult wake-up call because in Canada we believe in science and we value our scientists," she said. "But we need to take action, including building trust in vaccine through community engagement.”
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel, seen in a February 2026 file photo, called the loss of measles elimination status sobering. “It is a difficult wake-up call because in Canada we believe in science and we value our scientists," she said. "But we need to take action, including building trust in vaccine through community engagement.” Photo by Blair Gable /Postmedia
Five months after Canada lost its measles-free status, the annual week devoted to vaccination awareness is taking on a new significance.
For the first time in 24 years, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) came to Ottawa to launch vaccination week in the Americas — a nod to Canada’s recent loss of measles elimination status and a chance to reaffirm the importance of keeping vaccination rates high. The event, hosted by CHEO president and CEO Dr. Vera Etches, was held Monday, April 27, at Library and Archives Canada and livestreamed around the Americas.
PAHO, which serves as the World Health Organization’s regional office for the Americas, revoked Canada’s measles-free status last November after a year-long outbreak resulted in more than 5,000 cases of the highly infectious disease. So far in 2026, there have been 871 cases across the country.
The measles vaccine is highly effective, but, because the disease is so contagious, 95 per cent of the population must be immunized to prevent outbreaks. Vaccination rates have steadily declined in Canada in recent years and remain below the threshold — in part due to disruptions caused by the pandemic as well as the rise of misinformation and poor access to primary care.
As of the end of 2024, just over 80 per cent of two-year-olds in Canada were adequately vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella, according to Health Canada.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel, speaking at the event, called the loss of measles elimination status sobering.
“It is a difficult wake-up call because in Canada we believe in science and we value our scientists. But we need to take action, including building trust in vaccine through community engagement.”
She said the federal government is working with provinces and territories, as well as agencies, to better understand the barriers to higher immunization rates in order to regain measles elimination status and increase vaccination rates.
Dr. Anne Pham-Huy
Dr. Anne Pham-Huy, chair of Immunize Canada and a pediatric infectious disease physician at CHEO, is optimistic Canada can regain its measles elimination status, “but it is not going to be easy”. Photo by CHEO /Handout
“Together we are going to make sure that our children are going to receive all the vaccines that they need to protect themselves from diseases. Canada is firmly committed to advancing vaccination as a cornerstone of public health, both internationally and domestically.”
Canada’s newly appointed chief public health officer, Dr. Joss Reimer, called measles elimination a “deeply personal topic for me”.
She grew up in Winkler, Man., which currently has one of the highest rates of measles in the country and, at one point, had the highest rate of measles in the Americas.
Reimer noted that the majority of recent cases in Canada have been in highly connected, under-vaccinated communities, including Winkler.
“This moment is very important for us,” she said. “This is a stark reminder of our continued vulnerability to disease.”
PAHO provided recommendations in order to help Canada regain measles elimination status. Those include strengthening monitoring and data sharing, combatting misinformation and addressing immunity gaps.
Health Canada says it is strengthening approaches that target under-vaccinated and vaccine-hesitant populations.
Canada’s lack of a comprehensive national immunization registry has been criticized by health experts and others as a critical public health gap that creates a barrier to understanding vaccination coverage and trends.
Dr. Anne Pham-Huy, chair of Immunize Canada and a pediatric infectious disease physician at CHEO, said a national registry would make it easier to increase vaccination rates by making it easier to know where the potential pockets of underimmunization are.
She said she is optimistic Canada can regain its measles elimination status, “but it is not going to be easy and it definitely will require collaboration.
“In 2026, we are being reminded that progress in public health can never be taken for granted,” she said. “The recent loss of measles elimination status in Canada shows how quickly vaccine-preventable diseases can return when vaccination rates fall and misinformation spreads.”
Canada marks vaccination week amid 'sobering' return of measles
For the first time in 24 years, the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) came to Ottawa to launch vaccination week in the Americas — a nod to Canada’s recent loss of measles elimination status
Who is paying the scientists? And why? Perhaps more importantly, why are they hiding the research on Covid vaccines?
What to know about hantavirus after 3 died in suspected cruise ship outbreak
There are 87 surviving passengers and 61 crew members aboard the vessel, representing almost two dozen countries.
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Sammy Westfall, Kendra Nichols
Published May 04, 2026 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 4 minute read
This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 4, 2026. Photo by - /AFP via Getty Images
The rodent-borne hantavirus is suspected in an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean in which three passengers have died within three weeks.
The World Health Organization said one case of hantavirus has been confirmed and that there are five suspected cases, two of them fatal. Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the Hondius expedition ship, said one passenger is in intensive care in Johannesburg and two crew members aboard the vessel have respiratory symptoms.
There are 87 surviving passengers and 61 crew members aboard the vessel, representing almost two dozen countries.
Although hantavirus is normally linked to exposure to infected rodents’ urine or feces – a particular risk while cleaning – in rare cases it can spread between people. Here’s what to know about the disease.
Oceanwide Expeditions relayed an alarming timeline in a news release Monday about what it described as a “serious medical situation” aboard the Hondius, a polar-rated expedition ship off the coast of Cape Verde, along Africa’s western coast.
On April 11, a Dutch passenger died on board, but the cause of death could not be determined. His wife accompanied his body as it was brought off the ship on St. Helena, a remote island territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. After she left the ship, she became unwell and died, the company said.
About two weeks after the first death, a British passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa, where hantavirus was identified. That passenger is in the intensive-care unit in critical but stable condition, the Monday release said.
On Saturday, a third passenger died, a German national.
It has not been confirmed that all three of the deaths were caused by hantavirus, the company said.
Of the passengers, 19 are British, 17 are American, 13 are Spanish and eight are Dutch. More than half of the crew members are Filipino nationals.
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause serious illness and death. They are spread mainly by rodents and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which is more common in the United States, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which is found mostly in Europe and Asia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both are severe and potentially deadly.
It can be contracted by contact with droppings from infected rodents, commonly through inhalation when entering or cleaning unventilated areas. Person-to-person transmission is also possible, but more rare.
Symptoms typically start to show between one and eight weeks after first contact with the virus.
HPS affects the lungs and can cause fatigue, fever and muscle aches initially, followed by coughing and shortness of breath. Once inhaled, the virus can reach the lungs and infect cells that line tiny blood vessels in the lungs, allowing fluid to enter and making it difficult to breathe, according to the American Lung Association.
Thirty-eight percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms die of the disease, according to the CDC.
HFRS is less deadly but still serious. It affects the kidneys and causes headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, nausea and blurred vision. Later symptoms include low blood pleasure, internal bleeding and kidney failure. Fatality rates vary between less than 1 percent and up to 15 percent.
Hantaviruses are found all around the world, but outbreaks are rare. In 1993, a mysterious outbreak of severe respiratory illness originating in the Southwest killed about 30 people. The deaths were the first documented cases in the Americas of hantavirus disease in humans and triggered a public health response that has helped prevent other similarly sized outbreaks to date, The Washington Post reported.
Hantavirus was named as the cause of death for Betsy Arakawa, pianist and wife of actor Gene Hackman, last year.
There were 890 laboratory-confirmed hantavirus cases in the United States between 1993, when the CDC began tracking the illness, and the end of 2023. More than 90 percent of those occurred west of the Mississippi River. It is commonly linked to people with occupational exposure, such as those working in construction, pest control, janitorial and agricultural work, the American Lung Association said.
Globally, there may be as many as 150,000 cases of HFRS each year, according to a review by the American Society for Microbiology.
Treatment options are limited, so the best protection against the illness is to avoid contact with rodents and to take care when cleaning their droppings, wearing a well-fitted N95 mask. Health officials also warn against vacuuming or sweeping contaminated areas to avoid releasing particles into the air.
The company said the WHO is coordinating the medical evacuation of two symptomatic people – a British national and a Dutch national – as well as a full public health risk-assessment and support to the remaining passengers. On board, passengers are isolating, and hygiene protocols are in place.
The ship operator said it had not received authorization from Cape Verdean authorities to bring ill guests on land for treatment, adding that local health authorities had visited the ship to assess their condition. In a news release Monday, the company said it is considering sailing to Las Palmas or Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands to disembark.
For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to Healthing.ca – a member of the Postmedia Network.
torontosun.com
There are 87 surviving passengers and 61 crew members aboard the vessel, representing almost two dozen countries.
Author of the article:Washington Post
Washington Post
Sammy Westfall, Kendra Nichols
Published May 04, 2026 • Last updated 20 hours ago • 4 minute read
This aerial picture shows a general view of the cruise ship MV Hondius stationary off the port of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, on May 4, 2026. Photo by - /AFP via Getty Images
The rodent-borne hantavirus is suspected in an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean in which three passengers have died within three weeks.
The World Health Organization said one case of hantavirus has been confirmed and that there are five suspected cases, two of them fatal. Oceanwide Expeditions, the operator of the Hondius expedition ship, said one passenger is in intensive care in Johannesburg and two crew members aboard the vessel have respiratory symptoms.
There are 87 surviving passengers and 61 crew members aboard the vessel, representing almost two dozen countries.
Although hantavirus is normally linked to exposure to infected rodents’ urine or feces – a particular risk while cleaning – in rare cases it can spread between people. Here’s what to know about the disease.
Oceanwide Expeditions relayed an alarming timeline in a news release Monday about what it described as a “serious medical situation” aboard the Hondius, a polar-rated expedition ship off the coast of Cape Verde, along Africa’s western coast.
On April 11, a Dutch passenger died on board, but the cause of death could not be determined. His wife accompanied his body as it was brought off the ship on St. Helena, a remote island territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. After she left the ship, she became unwell and died, the company said.
About two weeks after the first death, a British passenger became seriously ill and was medically evacuated to South Africa, where hantavirus was identified. That passenger is in the intensive-care unit in critical but stable condition, the Monday release said.
On Saturday, a third passenger died, a German national.
It has not been confirmed that all three of the deaths were caused by hantavirus, the company said.
Of the passengers, 19 are British, 17 are American, 13 are Spanish and eight are Dutch. More than half of the crew members are Filipino nationals.
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause serious illness and death. They are spread mainly by rodents and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), which is more common in the United States, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which is found mostly in Europe and Asia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both are severe and potentially deadly.
It can be contracted by contact with droppings from infected rodents, commonly through inhalation when entering or cleaning unventilated areas. Person-to-person transmission is also possible, but more rare.
Symptoms typically start to show between one and eight weeks after first contact with the virus.
HPS affects the lungs and can cause fatigue, fever and muscle aches initially, followed by coughing and shortness of breath. Once inhaled, the virus can reach the lungs and infect cells that line tiny blood vessels in the lungs, allowing fluid to enter and making it difficult to breathe, according to the American Lung Association.
Thirty-eight percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms die of the disease, according to the CDC.
HFRS is less deadly but still serious. It affects the kidneys and causes headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, nausea and blurred vision. Later symptoms include low blood pleasure, internal bleeding and kidney failure. Fatality rates vary between less than 1 percent and up to 15 percent.
Hantaviruses are found all around the world, but outbreaks are rare. In 1993, a mysterious outbreak of severe respiratory illness originating in the Southwest killed about 30 people. The deaths were the first documented cases in the Americas of hantavirus disease in humans and triggered a public health response that has helped prevent other similarly sized outbreaks to date, The Washington Post reported.
Hantavirus was named as the cause of death for Betsy Arakawa, pianist and wife of actor Gene Hackman, last year.
There were 890 laboratory-confirmed hantavirus cases in the United States between 1993, when the CDC began tracking the illness, and the end of 2023. More than 90 percent of those occurred west of the Mississippi River. It is commonly linked to people with occupational exposure, such as those working in construction, pest control, janitorial and agricultural work, the American Lung Association said.
Globally, there may be as many as 150,000 cases of HFRS each year, according to a review by the American Society for Microbiology.
Treatment options are limited, so the best protection against the illness is to avoid contact with rodents and to take care when cleaning their droppings, wearing a well-fitted N95 mask. Health officials also warn against vacuuming or sweeping contaminated areas to avoid releasing particles into the air.
The company said the WHO is coordinating the medical evacuation of two symptomatic people – a British national and a Dutch national – as well as a full public health risk-assessment and support to the remaining passengers. On board, passengers are isolating, and hygiene protocols are in place.
The ship operator said it had not received authorization from Cape Verdean authorities to bring ill guests on land for treatment, adding that local health authorities had visited the ship to assess their condition. In a news release Monday, the company said it is considering sailing to Las Palmas or Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands to disembark.
For more health news and content around diseases, conditions, wellness, healthy living, drugs, treatments and more, head to Healthing.ca – a member of the Postmedia Network.
What to know about hantavirus after 3 died in suspected cruise ship outbreak
The rodent-borne hantavirus is suspected in an outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Person in Peel Region isolating in connection to hantavirus outbreak: Jones
Ontario's health minister did not clarify how the person came to be connected to hantavirus
Author of the article:Cynthia McLeod
Published May 11, 2026 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 2 minute read
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones speaks at a press conference at Queen's Park in Toronto, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. Photo by Laura Proctor /The Canadian Press
A third person in Ontario is isolating in connection with the hantavirus outbreak on the HV Hondius cruise ship.
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones told media on Monday during a news conference that a person in Peel Region is “isolating and being monitored by the local public health unit.” She did not clarify how the person came to be connected to hantavirus or any other information on the individual.
Late last week, the province said two Grey-Bruce County residents who had been on board the MV Hondius cruise ship were isolating at home after arriving back on April 25. The self-isolation time is 45 days, which is the virus’ longest potential incubation period.
Jones said the couple in Grey Bruce are still self-isolating and continue to be asymptomatic, with the local public health unit monitoring the situation closely.
Will there be more testing?
When asked if there was testing that was going to be done on the trio, Jones said that as they were not showing symptoms, tests wouldn’t be valuable.
“Initial conversations and feedback from Dr. Kieran Moore (Ontario’s chief medical officer of health) suggests that testing on asymptomatic (people) may not have the appropriate results, it may not be the best way to monitor,” she said. “That’s why these three individuals are self isolating, so we can see if there are any symptoms that come forward.”
Moore said the Grey Bruce couple disembarked the ship on the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, then flew to Johannesburg on the same flight as an infected person, meaning they were exposed in two places.
Other Canadians have arrived home
Meanwhile, the four Canadians who had been stuck on the Hondius during the outbreak that was declared in early May arrived in Victoria, B.C. on Sunday after a pit stop at Quebec’s Saguenay-Bagotville Airport.
B.C.’s top doctor said they are isolating there for at least 21 days due to their connections with the province.
Dr. Bonnie Henry said that none of the Canadians who were on the ship had known direct contact with anyone who was infected.
They had gotten off the ship in Tenerife, in Spain’s Canary Islands, earlier Sunday and were deemed asymptomatic before taking a plane that was chartered by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Global Affairs Canada, with support from the Canadian Armed Forces, according to The Canadian Press.
Three people — a Dutch couple and a German who had left the ship before the outbreak was declared — have died in connection to the ship.
Asymptomatic American tests positive
Officials in the U.S. said an American passenger who flew to Nebraska tested positive for hantavirus without showing symptoms. Another American showed mild symptoms.
A French passenger developed symptoms during their flight to Paris and later tested positive, officials in that country said.
The World Health Organization on Monday updated it overall tally of reported Andes hantavirus cases to nine.
torontosun.com
Ontario's health minister did not clarify how the person came to be connected to hantavirus
Author of the article:Cynthia McLeod
Published May 11, 2026 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 2 minute read
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones speaks at a press conference at Queen's Park in Toronto, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. Photo by Laura Proctor /The Canadian Press
A third person in Ontario is isolating in connection with the hantavirus outbreak on the HV Hondius cruise ship.
Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones told media on Monday during a news conference that a person in Peel Region is “isolating and being monitored by the local public health unit.” She did not clarify how the person came to be connected to hantavirus or any other information on the individual.
Late last week, the province said two Grey-Bruce County residents who had been on board the MV Hondius cruise ship were isolating at home after arriving back on April 25. The self-isolation time is 45 days, which is the virus’ longest potential incubation period.
Jones said the couple in Grey Bruce are still self-isolating and continue to be asymptomatic, with the local public health unit monitoring the situation closely.
Will there be more testing?
When asked if there was testing that was going to be done on the trio, Jones said that as they were not showing symptoms, tests wouldn’t be valuable.
“Initial conversations and feedback from Dr. Kieran Moore (Ontario’s chief medical officer of health) suggests that testing on asymptomatic (people) may not have the appropriate results, it may not be the best way to monitor,” she said. “That’s why these three individuals are self isolating, so we can see if there are any symptoms that come forward.”
Moore said the Grey Bruce couple disembarked the ship on the island of St. Helena in the South Atlantic, then flew to Johannesburg on the same flight as an infected person, meaning they were exposed in two places.
Other Canadians have arrived home
Meanwhile, the four Canadians who had been stuck on the Hondius during the outbreak that was declared in early May arrived in Victoria, B.C. on Sunday after a pit stop at Quebec’s Saguenay-Bagotville Airport.
B.C.’s top doctor said they are isolating there for at least 21 days due to their connections with the province.
Dr. Bonnie Henry said that none of the Canadians who were on the ship had known direct contact with anyone who was infected.
They had gotten off the ship in Tenerife, in Spain’s Canary Islands, earlier Sunday and were deemed asymptomatic before taking a plane that was chartered by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Global Affairs Canada, with support from the Canadian Armed Forces, according to The Canadian Press.
Three people — a Dutch couple and a German who had left the ship before the outbreak was declared — have died in connection to the ship.
Asymptomatic American tests positive
Officials in the U.S. said an American passenger who flew to Nebraska tested positive for hantavirus without showing symptoms. Another American showed mild symptoms.
A French passenger developed symptoms during their flight to Paris and later tested positive, officials in that country said.
The World Health Organization on Monday updated it overall tally of reported Andes hantavirus cases to nine.
Person in Peel Region isolating in connection to hantavirus outbreak: Jones
A third person in Ontario is isolating in connection with the hantavirus outbreak on the HV Hondius cruise ship. Find out more.