Argentine authorities and experts have launched an intensive investigation to determine the source of the Hantavirus outbreak that has spread on a cruise ship and caused deaths. Argentina, the departure point of the MV Hondius, is known as the country with the highest prevalence of this virus in the region.
elchi reports that, according to World Health Organization (WHO) data, Argentina has the highest prevalence of this rare rodent-borne disease in Latin America. The Argentine Ministry of Health announced that 101 hantavirus cases have been recorded since June 2025, which is twice as many as in the previous year.
Three deaths on the cruise ship
So far, three passengers have died due to the epidemic on the MV Hondius, which was traveling to Antarctica. Among the deceased are a 70-year-old Dutch man, his 69-year-old wife, and a German woman. It was also reported that a passenger in South Africa is in intensive care and another passenger returning to Switzerland has tested positive. The virus has been confirmed to be the “Andes” strain found in South America. The most dangerous characteristic of this strain, unlike other hantavirus types, is its limited potential for human-to-human transmission. Argentine authorities are supporting the diagnostic process by sending genetic material and test kits to countries where cases have been recorded, such as Spain, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.
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