Eight hantavirus infections, including three deaths, have been detected on the cruise ship MV Hondius, prompting Argentine authorities to investigate rodent populations at a landfill in Ushuaia.
Hantavirus Infections on MV Hondius
Eight cases of the Andes hantavirus strain were detected on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed from Ushuaia in early April. Three people have died, including a Dutch couple who had traveled through Argentina for several months. Argentine epidemiological services are investigating whether the couple contracted the virus within the country.
Rodent Investigation in Ushuaia
According to “El Pais,” official teams have been dispatched to Ushuaia to capture and study local rodents for the virus, specifically targeting the municipal landfill. Located seven kilometers from the city center, the site attracts tourists observing birds like the Patagonian caracara, though local residents and authorities remain skeptical of the landfill being the source of the outbreak.
Experts note that tourists observe the landfill from outside fenced areas or designated paths. The risk of infection in open spaces like landfills is considered lower than in enclosed or poorly ventilated environments, such as warehouses, farms, or campsites.
Record Infection Rates in Argentina
Argentina is currently facing a surge in hantavirus infections. In the season starting in mid-2025, a record 101 infections and 32 deaths have been reported, nearly doubling the previous season’s figures according to the Ministry of Health.
Most cases are concentrated in the central and northern regions. Experts suggest the disease’s spread is expanding alongside climate warming, similar to the patterns seen with the dengue virus. The virus is typically transmitted from animals to humans through the inhalation of dust containing rodent urine, feces, or saliva.
