Health authorities are closely monitoring a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship carrying passengers from several countries, after three people died and multiple others fell ill.
The vessel, MV Hondius, departed from Ushuaia about a month ago and had been travelling through remote wildlife regions when the outbreak emerged. Authorities say three passengers died either during the voyage or shortly after disembarking, while four others were medically evacuated for urgent treatment.
A large international contact-tracing operation is now underway to identify passengers who may have been exposed before returning home to countries including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Netherlands, United States and Switzerland.
According to the World Health Organization, eight cases have so far been identified—five confirmed and three suspected. However, health officials insist the threat to the wider public remains low.
WHO infectious disease expert Maria Van Kerkhove emphasized that the outbreak should not be compared to COVID-19 or influenza, noting that hantavirus spreads very differently and is far less contagious.
The virus involved is believed to be the Andes strain of hantavirus, a rare infection typically spread through exposure to infected rodent urine, saliva or droppings. Human-to-human transmission is possible but usually requires very close contact.
Health experts believe some onboard infections may have occurred due to the ship’s close living conditions, including shared cabins and communal dining spaces, which can increase the risk of transmission.
Investigations are ongoing to determine exactly how the outbreak began.
