Investigators believe passengers were exposed during a birdwatching stop in southern Argentina before the virus spread onboard
Health officials investigating the hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius now believe they may have identified where the deadly infection began.
Authorities in Argentina suspect the virus may have originated during a birdwatching excursion near a landfill site in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the country. Investigators say the area may have been heavily populated by rodents carrying the virus.
The outbreak turned deadly during the ship’s voyage from Argentina to Cape Verde, with three passengers losing their lives. More than 150 people were later stranded off the coast of Cape Verde while health officials worked to contain the situation. The vessel has since been cleared to dock in the Canary Islands.
According to Argentine officials who spoke with the Associated Press, investigators believe a Dutch couple may have contracted the virus during the excursion in Ushuaia before unknowingly bringing it back onboard the ship.
Health experts later confirmed that the infections were linked to the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, one of the few known variants capable of spreading between humans through close contact.
Hantavirus is most commonly transmitted through contact with rodents or exposure to their urine, saliva, droppings, or contaminated dust particles. While infections remain relatively rare, the disease can be extremely serious.
According to the World Health Organization, hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome carries a fatality rate that can range between 20% and 40%, making outbreaks a major public health concern.
As concern around the outbreak continues to grow, WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove urged the public not to panic while acknowledging the seriousness of the illness.
“This is not the next Covid, but it is a serious infectious disease,” she said during a recent press conference reported by ABC News. “If people get infected, and infections are uncommon, they can die.”
She added that passengers onboard the ship were understandably frightened and stressed the importance of accurate public information.
“Most people will never be exposed to this,” Van Kerkhove said.
Scientists continue to monitor the situation closely as investigators work to fully understand how the virus spread among passengers during the voyage.
