Argentina investigators zero in on possible origin point of hantavirus in deadly cruise outbreak

A bird-watching circuit successful a portion that had ne'er recorded a hantavirus lawsuit is present astatine the halfway of an urgent investigation, arsenic Argentine officials analyse whether a Dutch mates unknowingly brought the deadly microorganism aboard a cruise vessel aft a halt astatine a landfill.

Argentina’s starring proposal is that a Dutch mates whitethorn person been exposed to rodents portion visiting the landfill during the circuit successful the metropolis of Ushuaia, contracting the microorganism earlier boarding the cruise ship, 2 Argentine officials investigating the origins of the outbreak told The Associated Press connected Wednesday.

Hantavirus usually spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings. The World Health Organization (WHO) said human-to-human transportation is uncommon, but possible.

Authorities antecedently said Ushuaia and surrounding Tierra del Fuego state had ne'er recorded a hantavirus case.

RARE HANTAVIRUS HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION SUSPECTED ON LUXURY CRUISE SHIP WHERE 3 HAVE DIED

Health workers successful protective cogwheel evacuate patients from the MV Hondius cruise vessel into an ambulance astatine a larboard successful Praia, Cape Verde, connected May 6, 2026. (Misper Apawu/AP)

The Dutch-flagged MV Hondius vessel is astatine the halfway of an outbreak that has already killed 3 passengers and sickened respective others. Contact tracing is underway crossed Europe and Africa to way imaginable dispersed among passengers who person since disembarked.

Testing successful Switzerland, South Africa and Senegal has confirmed that this is the Andes strain, according to authorities. The WHO says the variant is recovered chiefly successful Argentina and Chile that tin dispersed done adjacent contact, though rare.

The MV Hondius cruise vessel is anchored astatine a larboard successful Praia, Cape Verde, connected May 6, 2026. (Misper Apawu/AP)

Swiss officials said a antheral who returned from the cruise sought attraction aft processing symptoms and was instantly isolated. They said helium tested affirmative for the Andes strain.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Wednesday that 3 suspected cases were evacuated from the vas and are being transported to the Netherlands for treatment.

An ambulance evacuates patients from the MV Hondius cruise vessel to the airdrome successful Praia, Cape Verde, connected May 6, 2026. (Misper Apawu/AP)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

"At this stage, the wide nationalist wellness hazard remains low," Tedros said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.