Ushuaia Faces Questions Over Hantavirus Outbreak
The southern Argentine city of Ushuaia, often promoted as the “End of the World” and a gateway to Antarctica, is facing growing international attention following the deadly hantavirus outbreak linked to the cruise ship MV Hondius. The vessel, currently anchored near Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, began its journey from Ushuaia on 1 April with 114 passengers and 61 crew members from 22 countries onboard. Since then, several infections and deaths linked to the Andes strain of hantavirus have been reported among passengers. Although investigators suspect the virus may have been contracted before the cruise departed, the exact source of the outbreak remains unclear. One leading theory points to a landfill site outside Ushuaia that attracts rodents and is frequently visited by tourists interested in birdwatching. Local authorities, however, strongly reject the idea that Tierra del Fuego province was the […]
