BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Health officials are racing to uncover the source of a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship. This comes as Argentina sees a rise in hantavirus cases, and many experts suggest climate change is playing a big role.
Argentina, where the cruise to Antarctica set sail, has the highest rate of hantavirus infections in Latin America, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Warmer temperatures are allowing rodents, which carry the virus, to thrive in new areas. People typically get infected through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.
Hugo Pizzi, an Argentine infectious disease specialist, emphasizes the impact of climate change. “As Argentina becomes more tropical, not only do we see diseases like dengue and yellow fever emerge, but conditions also favor the growth of rodent populations,” he explains. This year, the Health Ministry reported 101 hantavirus cases, double compared to last year.
The strain of hantavirus known as the Andes virus can cause severe lung disease. The mortality rate climbed significantly, with nearly a third of cases this past year leading to death. The virus spreads primarily through inhaling contaminated droppings, though human-to-human transmission is rare.
Passengers aboard the MV Hondius tested positive for the Andes virus. To support investigations, Argentina is sending testing materials to several countries, including Spain and the UK.
Authorities are currently trying to map where infected travelers visited before boarding the cruise in Ushuaia, Argentina’s southernmost city. It is unclear when or how they contracted the virus, as it can incubate for one to eight weeks.
One of the three fatalities on board was a 70-year-old Dutch man who died on April 11, followed by his wife and another passenger. The investigation is ongoing, focusing on sightseeing in Ushuaia and other regions.
Because early hantavirus symptoms mimic those of the flu, many may mistake it for a common cold. Raul González Ittig, a genetics professor, notes this could delay diagnosis and treatment.
Argentina has faced extreme weather, including historic droughts and intense rainstorms, which are attributed to climate change. Such fluctuations can boost rodent populations, amplifying the risk of transmission to humans.
Once confined mostly to Patagonia, 83% of hantavirus cases are now found in Argentina’s northern regions. The Health Ministry had issued warnings earlier this year about several outbreaks, notably in Buenos Aires, where healthcare facilities are often under-resourced.
One family experienced this firsthand. They initially thought their 14-year-old son had the flu, but after his condition worsened rapidly, he died within hours of testing positive for the virus.
This outbreak highlights how interconnected climate change, health, and safety can be. As our world changes, so do the threats to our health. For more on hantavirus and its implications, you can visit the WHO’s page on rodent-borne diseases.
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Argentina, General news, Latin America, Central America, South America, Weather, Climate and environment, Medical research, World news, Public health, Daisy Morinigo, World Health Organization, Climate science, Climate change, David Delgado, Oceans, Hugo Pizzi, Health, Zoology, Climate
