Hantavirus Outbreak Revives Memories of 2018 Argentina Epidemic

A recent hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship has left three people dead and has resurfaced memories of the 2018 outbreak in Epuyen, Argentina, which recorded 34 cases and 11 fatalities. Mailen Valle, who lost her father and two sisters in the 2018 outbreak, recalled the experience, saying that "nobody was prepared to see how, in a matter of days, a family table was left empty."

The variant of the hantavirus suspected in both outbreaks is transmitted through the droppings, saliva, and urine of the Andean mouse. Jorge Diaz, an epidemiologist with Chubut province's health department, said that human-to-human transmission of hantavirus was first discovered in 1996 in the neighboring town of El Bolson.

Residents in Patagonia know how to protect themselves from the virus by airing out sheds and cleaning areas with bleach. However, the human transmission of the Epuyen outbreak changed the scale of the fight, as one could get infected from their neighbor just as easily as from an Andean mouse.

The outbreak has had a lasting impact on the community, with many residents still remembering the stigma and discrimination they faced. Isabel Diaz, who survived the outbreak, recalled being banned from shops in nearby towns. The community is now waiting for the next steps from health authorities to prevent further outbreaks. The health department will continue to monitor the situation and provide guidance on how to prevent the spread of the virus.