Home / Health / Hantavirus Outbreak: Argentina Linked to Cruise Ship Deaths
Hantavirus Outbreak: Argentina Linked to Cruise Ship Deaths
7 May
Summary
- Hantavirus cases in Argentina have doubled compared to the previous year.
- Climate change is suspected to be expanding the range of hantavirus.
- Three passengers died from the Andes virus on an Antarctic cruise.
Argentine authorities are investigating a potential link between a deadly hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship and a significant rise in cases within Argentina. The country has reported 101 infections since June 2025, roughly double the previous year's figures, with a concerning increase in mortality rates.
Experts suggest that climate change is contributing to this surge by altering ecosystems and expanding the habitats for hantavirus-carrying rodents. This environmental shift is believed to be increasing the risk of transmission to humans, particularly in regions like Patagonia and the northern areas of Argentina.
Three passengers on the cruise, all Dutch and German nationals, succumbed to the Andes virus between April 11 and May 2, 2026. Investigations are focused on tracing the passengers' movements in southern Argentina, including Ushuaia and Patagonia, to pinpoint the source of infection, as the virus can incubate for up to eight weeks.
