The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains an emergency response following the hantavirus outbreak detected on the cruise ship MV Hondius, which departed from Ushuaia and is traveling through the Atlantic.
So far, six people linked to the ship have been affected. Three have died, and one remains in critical condition in South Africa.
The WHO is coordinating medical evacuations and epidemiological analyses, although it clarifies that the risk to the general population is low and travel restrictions are not justified.
Passengers and crew remain under medical monitoring, in an operation that highlights the importance of international cooperation to contain health emergencies.
What is hantavirus
Hantavirus is an emerging zoonosis caused by RNA viruses of the Bunyaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted by wild rodents, which carry the virus asymptomatically and excrete it in urine, saliva, and feces.
In humans, it can cause two clinical forms:
- Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS): more common in Asia and Europe.
- Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS): predominant in America and more severe.
Variants in Argentina
In the country, two main species associated with HCPS circulate:
- Orthohantavirus andesense: includes lineages such as Lechiguanas, Orán, and Buenos Aires.
- Orthohantavirus mamorense: with the Laguna Negra virus.
Additionally, other genotypes have been identified in the national territory that are not yet formally recognized.
Modes of transmission
The main route is the inhalation of contaminated aerosols in rural, suburban, or wild areas infested by rodents.
- It can also be transmitted through mucosal contact (conjunctival, nasal, or oral).
- To a lesser extent, through direct bites from infected rodents.
- Although rare, person-to-person transmission has been documented in outbreaks, so all human fluids are considered risky in those scenarios.
Symptoms and clinical evolution
Initial symptoms resemble the flu:
- Fever above 38°C.
- Muscle aches, chills, and headache.
- Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
In severe cases, it can progress to:
- Acute respiratory failure.
- Cardiogenic shock, especially in HCPS.
Early detection and access to intensive care are crucial to reducing mortality, which can exceed 30% in HCPS.
Prevention and control
The Ministry of Health of Argentina emphasizes that prevention depends on limiting exposure to infected rodents:
- Keep homes and sheds free of infestations.
- Avoid direct contact with excrement or secretions.
- Exercise extreme caution in rural and high-risk areas.
Awareness campaigns also recommend ventilating closed spaces before cleaning them and using appropriate protection when handling potentially contaminated materials.
The outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship is a reminder that hantavirus remains a health threat in America. With variants like Andes and Laguna Negra circulating in Argentina, prevention and early detection are essential to reducing mortality and containing new cases. International cooperation and epidemiological surveillance are pillars to face this disease in a context of global mobility.
