Although Argentina formalized its exit from the World Health Organization (WHO) last March 19, a year after having communicated its intention to leave this organization, the hantavirus outbreak detected on the Hondius cruise ship, which had departed from the Argentine town of Ushuaia, is not directly related to the resignation to coordinate health efforts with the rest of the countries, because there has not been enough time for the negative consequences that it may have in the longer term to develop. Already last year, Argentina was the country in the region that had reported the highest number of hantavirus infection cases, with 66, from November to January 2025.
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The Argentine Ministry of Health has reported a sharp increase in hantavirus infection cases in the current season, along with a rise in the mortality rate, which is now 31.7%. Most of the virus variants recorded in the South American country are from the Andes family. The Southern Andes is predominant in Patagonia, where Ushuaia is located, and to which a high mortality rate is attributed in addition to practically all documented cases of person-to-person transmission.
The two deceased passengers traveled in recent months through southern Argentina and Chile, and also visited Uruguay
The most severe case of hantavirus transmission between people in Argentina occurred in the southern province of Chubut – southern Argentina – between late 2018 and early 2019, when 34 cases of the Southern Andes variant were recorded. In 33 of the infections, transmission occurred through direct contact between people. Sources from the Argentine Ministry of Health have informed the Efe agency that two of the cruise passengers who died after contracting the virus traveled in recent months through southern Argentina and Chile, and also visited Uruguay.
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One of the concerns of Argentine epidemiologists is that budget cuts by the Javier Milei government are limiting specialists’ ability to do fieldwork and monitor the different cases of infectious diseases in the country. The low salaries of researchers and the lack of investment further complicate the situation in the face of significant outbreaks, as in this case.
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Last December, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) reminded member states, of which Argentina is no longer part, that there had been an increase in hantavirus infection cases recorded during 2025 in endemic countries of the Americas Region, “particularly in the Southern Cone.” The global organization has pointed out that, “considering the increase in lethality” that has been observed, there is a “need to maintain and strengthen epidemiological surveillance of this disease, ensure timely diagnosis and proper case management, as well as promote intersectoral actions aimed at reducing associated environmental and occupational risks.”
