Hantavirus in Argentina.
Argentina is the global focal point for Andes hantavirus. Cases concentrate in southwestern Patagonia (Chubut, Río Negro, Neuquén) and the northwestern provinces of Salta and Jujuy. Argentina is also the only country with confirmed person-to-person Andes transmission, including the 1996 Bariloche outbreak and several smaller household clusters since. The May 2026 MV Hondius cluster originated on a vessel that departed Ushuaia, and Argentine sequences are 99.7% identical to the MVH-2026 strain. Argentine national surveillance (Ministerio de Salud) reports 60–110 confirmed HPS cases annually with case fatality typically 25–40%; rural lodge workers, agricultural workers, and tourists who clean cabins are the highest-risk groups.
Active and recent clusters
- Argentina · Patagonia (Andes-virus zone) — 70 cases, 22 deaths (CFR 31%) · Annual pattern; PAHO 2025 epidemiological alert. Argentina reports approximately 60–110 confirmed HPS cases per year, concentrated in southwestern Patagonia (Chubut, Río Negro, Neuquén) and the northwestern provinces. Argentina is the only country with confirmed person-to-person Andes transmission. Numbers shown reflect the Argentine Ministerio de Salud annual baseline; current weekly counts available from the boletín integrado.
Authoritative sources
Frequently asked
Is hantavirus a problem in Argentina?
Yes. Argentina is part of the Americas hantavirus surveillance footprint, with the Andes strain causing HPS and case fatality typically 25–40%.
What rodent carries hantavirus in Argentina?
Long-tailed pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus) in Patagonia and the central provinces.
Who tracks hantavirus cases in Argentina?
Argentina Ministerio de Salud — Boletín Epidemiológico; PAHO — Hantavirus Americas Alert.
Related
Disclaimer. Country surveillance figures are floor estimates and reflect what national authorities publish. Always confirm with the cited sources.