STORY: :: An Argentine health official says it's unlikely that hantavirus came from Tierra del Fuego province
:: Ushuaia, Argentina / May 8, 2026
:: Juan Petrina, Director of Epidemiology and Environmental Health for Tierra del Fuego
"From the perspective of the Epidemiology Division, we view the overall situation that occurred on this cruise ship as a rather random occurrence. By chance, it happened to be this ship that departed from the port of Ushuaia, but a situation like this could have occurred at any port in the world, and the same outcome would have occurred, since it is a nonspecific illness with a fairly long incubation period--or at least one with a significant range." // "So, taking all that into account, it's clear that Ushuaia isn't the place to focus on. Unfortunately, the ship left from here, but the likelihood that they could have been infected in this city is very, very low--practically zero."
Petrina said the conclusion was based on the time frame between the patients' journey through the province and the onset of symptoms.
Three people have died. Four others have been confirmed to be infected and at least three further suspected cases have been reported.
WHO has said the risk to the general public remains low, stressing that human-to-human transmission of the virus is rare and typically requires very close contact, but added that screening and follow-up measures on arrival are essential to prevent further spread.
