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"Tests on passengers who survived also confirmed they were infected with the Andes strain, the only strain in which human-to-human spread has been documented and which is found mainly in parts of Argentina and Chile. Although it is not yet confirmed how the passengers were infected, a hypothesis being investigated by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has already categorically ruled out an epidemic, is that transmission occurred before boarding, placing the South American country under global scrutiny."

"An outbreak in rural communities 30 years ago in the Patagonia area of Argentina led scientists, for the first time, to document person-to-person transmission of hantavirus, which until then had been known only to spread through contact with rodents. Nearly a decade ago another outbreak, also in Patagonia, provided detailed evidence of inter-human transmission when an infected 68-year-old rural worker attended a birthday party in a small village. The infection spread and resulted in 11 deaths."

"Argentinian scientists who have studied the virus for decades agree that despite a slight recent increase in cases, Argentina is not facing anything significantly new or different from previous decades. Argentina is used to dealing with hantavirus, said Dr Roberto Debbag, an infectious disease specialist and vice-president of the Latin American Society of Vaccinology, noting that the country made reporting hantavirus infections mandatory after the 1996 cases. Since then, there have always been cases and outbreaks but nothing has really changed."

"Since July last year, Argentina has recorded 101 hantavirus cases, with 32 deaths; in previous epidemiological seasons, between July and June, the figures were lower, such as 64 cases and 14 deaths in 2024-25 and 82 cases and 13 deaths in 2023-24."

Hantavirus outbreaks in Patagonia have provided evidence of person-to-person transmission. Earlier outbreaks documented transmission between people, shifting understanding from rodent-only spread. A later outbreak linked to a birthday party involved an infected rural worker and led to 11 deaths. Three deaths on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius, departing from Argentina, have renewed attention. Passenger testing confirmed infection with the Andes strain, the only strain with documented human-to-human spread and mainly found in parts of Argentina and Chile. The WHO is investigating how passengers were infected while ruling out an epidemic. Argentinian scientists report no major change, citing mandatory reporting since 1996 and ongoing cases. Recorded cases since July include 101 infections and 32 deaths, compared with lower counts in prior seasons.

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