Buenos aires: Health authorities in Argentina are investigating whether the country was the source of an outbreak of the hantavirus, a deadly disease that recently spread aboard a transatlantic cruise ship. The vessel, currently anchored offshore, has prompted a health emergency as Argentina faces an increase in hantavirus infections, which some local public health researchers link to the effects of climate change.
According to Emirates News Agency, Argentina's Ministry of Health reported on Tuesday that 101 hantavirus cases have been recorded since June 2025. This figure is nearly double the number of cases reported during the same period the previous year. The increase in cases has raised concerns, given that the World Health Organisation consistently ranks Argentina as having the highest prevalence rate of the rare rodent-borne disease in Latin America.
The hantavirus is typically transmitted to humans through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. The cruise ship, which departed from Argentina for Antarctica, is now under scrutiny as officials attempt to determine whether the outbreak originated in the country. The situation underscores the ongoing public health challenges and the need for vigilant monitoring and response efforts.