Hantavirus Hunt: Argentina Tracks Rats for Cruise Outbreak Clues

Argentina has expanded its investigation into the hantavirus outbreak that impacted passengers aboard the MV Hondius last month. The probe now includes trapping and testing rodents in the western province of Mendoza, with scientists awaiting lab results from the southernmost city of Ushuaia.

Biologists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are set to join the mission in Mendoza next week. The outbreak was linked to the Andes hantavirus, a rodent-borne disease endemic to Argentina and Chile, which in rare circumstances can transmit between people.

Authorities are working to pinpoint the origin of the virus, with a Dutch couple who died in April being the first known victims. While pinpointing the exact source is difficult, understanding the transmission is vital for managing the rare virus. Investigators are examining the schedules and movements of the 11 confirmed cases.

Argentine scientists are focusing on the movements of the Dutch tourists, suspecting exposure to rodent droppings or urine during their extended trip across Argentina and Chile before boarding the ship in Ushuaia. Ushuaia's local authorities have contested claims that the virus originated there, as the Andes hantavirus has not previously been detected in the region.