In Argentina, health officials and specialists are actively investigating the emergence of a hantavirus outbreak linked to an Atlantic cruise. As cases rise domestically, the focus is on understanding the connection between local infections and the ongoing health crisis aboard the cruise ship.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Officials and experts in Argentina are scrambling to determine if their country is the source of a deadly hantavirus outbreak that has gripped an Atlantic cruise.
The health emergency aboard the ship that’s moored across the ocean comes as Argentina sees a surge of hantavirus cases that many local public health researchers attribute to the recently accelerating effects of climate change. Argentina, where the cruise to Antarctica departed, is consistently ranked by the World Health Organization as having the highest incidence of the rare, rodent-borne disease in Latin America.
Higher temperatures expand the virus’ range by allowing rodents that carry the hantavirus to thrive in new environments, according to experts. The virus is primarily contracted through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.
“Argentina has become more tropical because of climate change, and that has brought disruptions, like dengue and yellow fever, but also new tropical plants that produce seeds for mice to proliferate,” said Hugo Pizzi, a prominent Argentine infectious disease specialist. “There is no doubt that as time goes by, the hantavirus is spreading more and more.”
The Argentine Health Ministry reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025, roughly double the cases recorded during the same period the previous year.
A hantavirus found in South America, known as the Andes virus, can lead to a severe lung disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The disease resulted in death for nearly one-third of cases reported last year, according to the Health Ministry, an increase from an average mortality rate of 15% over the previous five years.
Hantavirus typically spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings, with some rare cases of person-to-person transmission, according to the WHO. The Andes strain is the only hantavirus known to be transmitted between humans.
Authorities reported that passengers on the MV Hondius ship tested positive for the Andes virus. In response, Argentina has sent genetic material from the Andes virus, along with testing equipment, to assist Spain, Senegal, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom in detecting it.
The cause of infection remains under investigation
Argentine officials are working to trace the travel history of infected passengers in the country before they boarded the Dutch-flagged cruise liner in Ushuaia, a city in southern Argentina. This information will help them contact trace, isolate close contacts, and monitor further potential spread.
The U.N. health agency, or WHO, reported that the first death on board occurred on April 11, involving a 70-year-old Dutch man. His 69-year-old wife passed away on April 26, followed by a German woman on May 2.
The virus’s incubation period ranges from one to eight weeks, complicating efforts to determine whether passengers contracted the virus in Argentina before their voyage to Antarctica on April 1, during a stop at a remote South Atlantic island, or aboard the ship itself.
Historically, the province of Tierra del Fuego, where the vessel docked for weeks prior to departure, has never reported a hantavirus case. Before boarding, the Dutch couple engaged in bird-watching and traveled elsewhere in Argentina and Chile, as noted by WHO.
The Argentine government’s leading hypothesis suggests that the couple contracted the virus during their bird-watching excursion in Ushuaia, according to two investigators who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Authorities are also tracing the path of the Dutch tourists through the forested hillsides of Patagonia where some infections are concentrated.
Because the early symptoms resemble flu-like fever and chills, “tourists might think they just have a cold and not take it seriously. That makes it particularly dangerous,” remarked Raul González Ittig, a genetics professor at the National University of Córdoba and a researcher at the state science body CONICET.
Climate change sends rodents to new frontiers
Argentina has faced a historic drought in recent years, alongside periods of unexpected heavy rainfall. This variable weather is part of a broader pattern attributed to climate change.
The changes in climate have allowed conditions for hantavirus to thrive. Droughts can push animals out of their habitats in search of food and water, while significant rainfall results in abundant vegetation, scattering seeds that attract rodent populations.
“Increased precipitation leads to more food availability, growing rodent populations, and consequently a higher likelihood of hantavirus transmission from rodents to humans,” Ittig explained.
Although hantavirus cases were once confined to the southern regions of Patagonia, the latest statistics show that 83% of cases are now found in Argentina’s far north, as reported by the Health Ministry.
Argentina issued alerts early this year
In January, the health ministry issued an alert about multiple fatal outbreaks, including in the heavily populated province of Buenos Aires.
With rural health facilities under-equipped, residents remained unaware of the threat they faced.
Daisy Morinigo and David Delgado initially thought their 14-year-old son had the flu when he showed symptoms like fever and body aches. Medical professionals in San Andrés de Giles sent him home with ibuprofen and advice to rest.
However, as his condition worsened, they rushed him to intensive care on January 1, where he died just two hours after receiving a positive hantavirus test.
“I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone in the world,” Delgado lamented.
Key Takeaways
- Argentina is facing a surge in hantavirus infections linked to climate change.
- Passage on the MV Hondius cruise has raised health concerns regarding the Andes virus.
- The initial cases show a significant mortality rate, raising alarms among health officials.
- Investigations are ongoing to determine infection sources among cruise passengers.
- Climate variability has contributed to the proliferation of hantavirus-carrying rodents.
- Public awareness is crucial due to flu-like symptoms resembling those of common illnesses.
FAQ
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that can cause severe lung disease known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
How is hantavirus transmitted?
Hantavirus typically spreads through contact with contaminated rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.
What are the symptoms of hantavirus infection?
Symptoms may include flu-like fever, chills, and muscle aches, which can progress to severe respiratory issues.
Is person-to-person transmission of hantavirus possible?
While rare, the Andes strain of hantavirus is known to have limited human-to-human transmission.
What should I do if I have symptoms of hantavirus?
If you experience prolonged flu-like symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
