29/06/2026 16:51 - Sociales
Just days before the World Health Organization (WHO) is expected to officially declare the end of the hantavirus outbreak linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship, Argentina's National Institute of Infectious Diseases (INEI-ANLIS Malbrán) —the country's foremost public health laboratory, equivalent to the CDC in the United States— has confirmed a historic finding: hantavirus has been detected for the first time in rodents in Tierra del Fuego.
For international travelers and locals alike, there's reassuring news: the newly identified variant does not match the strain responsible for the international outbreak that sparked global concern after affecting passengers aboard a cruise that departed from Ushuaia (the southernmost city in the world) in April 2026.
A specialized health mission conducted between May 18-22, 2026 captured 144 rodents in peripheral areas of Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego National Park. Laboratory analysis revealed:
The international outbreak that generated worldwide concern has these confirmed statistics:
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cases | 13 |
| Deaths | 3 |
| Countries monitoring contacts | 33 |
| Close contacts tracked | 650+ |
| People still under surveillance | 54 |
If no new infections emerge before July 2, 2026, the WHO will officially declare the outbreak closed.
Hantavirus is a family of viruses primarily transmitted to humans through contact with infected rodents' urine, droppings, or saliva. In the Americas, it can cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a severe respiratory illness with a high mortality rate.
The Andes virus, predominant in Argentine Patagonia (the vast southern region spanning from the Andes mountains to the Atlantic coast), is notably the only known hantavirus capable of person-to-person transmission.
Tierra del Fuego (Spanish for "Land of Fire") is Argentina's southernmost province, located at the tip of South America. It's home to Ushuaia, often called "the end of the world," a major departure point for Antarctic cruises and a gateway to stunning natural landscapes like Tierra del Fuego National Park.
The Abrothrix genus (specifically Abrothrix hirta and Abrothrix olivacea) comprises small rodents native to Patagonia and southern South America. Previously not considered primary hantavirus reservoirs, this discovery expands scientists' understanding of virus circulation in the region.
To date, no human cases have been linked to this newly identified variant in Tierra del Fuego. This detection strengthens epidemiological surveillance systems in the province and helps health authorities better understand virus circulation patterns.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
