Officials in the Argentine city of Ushuaia have denied that the city is the source of a hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship MV Hondius. The ship, operated by Oceanwide Expeditions, reported cases of hantavirus among passengers and crew, leading to speculation that the outbreak originated in Ushuaia, a common port of call for Antarctic cruises.
Captain Jan Dobrogowski of the MV Hondius spoke out about the outbreak, but details of his statement were not immediately available. Hantavirus is a rare but serious disease transmitted through contact with rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, and can cause severe respiratory illness.
Local health authorities in Ushuaia have conducted investigations and stated that the strain of hantavirus found in the cases does not match strains typically found in the Ushuaia region. They emphasized that there is no evidence linking the outbreak to the city, and that the source may have been elsewhere along the ship's itinerary.
The MV Hondius has been placed under quarantine, and affected individuals are receiving medical care. The World Health Organization and local health agencies are monitoring the situation, but no further details on the number of cases or the severity of the illness have been confirmed as of May 12, 2026.
