Argentina in spotlight over hantavirus as authorities retrace footsteps of ship’s passengers
Summary
Argentina is under global attention after three people died from hantavirus on a Dutch cruise ship that left Argentina. The virus, which mainly spreads through rodents, can occasionally spread between people. Argentina has dealt with hantavirus for decades, and recent increased cases are linked to changes in rodent populations due to climate effects.Key Facts
- Hantavirus can spread from rodents and, in rare cases, between humans.
- Argentina has a history of hantavirus outbreaks in its Patagonia region dating back 30 years.
- Three people died from hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship that departed from Argentina.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) is investigating but says there is no epidemic.
- The virus strain found on the ship is the Andes strain, which is known for human-to-human transmission and is mainly found in Argentina and Chile.
- Since July last year, Argentina recorded 101 hantavirus cases with 32 deaths, which is within its historical average.
- Climate changes like drought and rainfall shifts affect rodent behavior and may influence hantavirus cases.
- Argentina plans to study rodents along the travel path of infected passengers to find out where the virus was caught.
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