Argentina investigates possible source of hantavirus on cruise ship
Hantavirus outbreak on MV Hondius raises fears after a Ushuaia landfill visit See how investigators traced the Andes strain as contacts are monitored worldwide
Argentine authorities are investigating whether a landfill visit in Ushuaia may have exposed a Dutch couple to hantavirus before they boarded the MV Hondius cruise ship. The couple is now considered a possible starting point for an outbreak that has killed three passengers and sickened others.
Officials said the virus on the ship has been identified as the Andes strain, which is mainly found in Argentina and Chile. Health experts note that hantavirus usually spreads through contact with rodent droppings, while persontoperson transmission is uncommon but possible.
Contact tracing is under way across Europe and Africa as passengers who left the ship are tracked. Swiss authorities also said a returning passenger tested positive and was isolated, while the WHO said the overall public health risk remains low.