Argentina investigates link to deadly hantavirus outbreak on cruise ship
Summary
Argentina is investigating whether it is the source of a deadly hantavirus outbreak that affected a cruise ship in the Atlantic. Three people have died, and several others are suspected of infection. Health experts are testing rodents in southern Argentina to find the virus source, while the cruise ship has left Cape Verde for Spain after evacuations.Key Facts
- Three people died from hantavirus on an Atlantic cruise ship: a Dutch couple and a German national.
- Eight people are suspected of having hantavirus, with three confirmed by lab tests.
- Argentina’s health ministry is sending experts to the Ushuaia region to catch and test rodents that may carry the virus.
- The cruise ship was stuck off Cape Verde but departed to Spain after evacuating three people, two seriously ill, who will be sent to the Netherlands.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) says hantavirus spreads slowly and needs very close contact to transmit between people.
- The South American Andes virus causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a serious lung disease.
- Argentina has reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025, about double last year, possibly due to climate change increasing rodent populations.
- Argentina will share virus information and treatment guidelines with labs in Spain, Senegal, South Africa, the Netherlands, and the UK.
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