Hantavirus in Argentina
Argentina is one of the highest-burden HPS countries globally. Andes virus, endemic to Patagonia, is the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission. The 1996 Bariloche cluster and the 2018–2019 Epuyén outbreak are landmark events in hantavirus epidemiology.
Cumulative Cases
1,301
Deaths
412
CFR
31.7%
Global Rank
#8
by case count
Circulating Strains
- ●Andes virus (ANDV)
- ●Laguna Negra virus
Primary syndrome: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).
Reservoir Species
- • Long-tailed pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus)
Most Affected Regions
- • Patagonia (Río Negro, Chubut, Neuquén)
- • Salta
- • Buenos Aires province
Country-specific Risk & Prevention
The MV Hondius cruise-ship outbreak of 2026 is suspected to trace back to a landfill site near Ushuaia. Travelers should avoid contact with rodents and droppings in southern Argentina, particularly during summer-tourism months.
General prevention: see symptoms and prevention guidance →
Field Notes
Andes virus. Person-to-person transmission documented. Patagonia region most affected. 2025–26 season: 101 confirmed cases and 32 deaths — nearly double the prior season and the highest count since 2018 (CNN/UPI, May 2026).