How climate change could help hantavirus find more hosts
A cruise ship, the MV Hondius, carrying 147 passengers and crew from Ushuaia, Argentina, was forced to cut short its voyage to Antarctica after an outbreak of Andes hantavirus infected several people and killed three. Experts link the surge in cases, including a rise in Argentina’s infections to 101 since June 2025, to climate change-driven shifts in rodent habitats and behavior, following extreme drought and rainfall in the region." "article": "The MV Hondius, a cruise ship departing Ushuaia, Argentina, in April, interrupted its voyage to Antarctica after an outbreak of Andes hantavirus infected multiple passengers and crew, resulting in three deaths. The Andes strain is the only known hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission, raising concerns about its potential to spread beyond the ship. Argentina’s health authorities reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025, double the number from the same period the previous year. The surge coincides with extreme weather events, including severe drought between 2021 and 2024 and record rainfall in 2024, which disrupted rodent habitats and increased human exposure to the virus. Experts suggest climate change may be driving the outbreak by altering rainfall, vegetation, and rodent behavior. A possible source of the infection was a birding expedition near Ushuaia, where a landfill attracts rodents carrying the virus. The incubation period of one to six weeks means the outbreak could have originated in passengers’ home countries. Argentina’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization in March 2026 has complicated global health cooperation, potentially hindering coordinated responses to cross-border disease threats. Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the risk of such outbreaks by expanding the range of rodent hosts and the pathogens they carry. The Andes hantavirus, while deadly, is less transmissible than COVID-19, but its emergence highlights vulnerabilities in global public health systems. Researchers emphasize the need for better surveillance and climate-adaptive strategies to mitigate future risks.
The MV Hondius, a cruise ship departing Ushuaia, Argentina, in April, interrupted its voyage to Antarctica after an outbreak of Andes hantavirus infected multiple passengers and crew, resulting in three deaths. The Andes strain is the only known hantavirus capable of human-to-human transmission, raising concerns about its potential to spread beyond the ship. Argentina’s health authorities reported 101 hantavirus infections since June 2025, double the number from the same period the previous year. The surge coincides with extreme weather events, including severe drought between 2021 and 2024 and record rainfall in 2024, which disrupted rodent habitats and increased human exposure to the virus. Experts suggest climate change may be driving the outbreak by altering rainfall, vegetation, and rodent behavior. A possible source of the infection was a birding expedition near Ushuaia, where a landfill attracts rodents carrying the virus. The incubation period of one to six weeks means the outbreak could have originated in passengers’ home countries. Argentina’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization in March 2026 has complicated global health cooperation, potentially hindering coordinated responses to cross-border disease threats. Scientists warn that climate change is increasing the risk of such outbreaks by expanding the range of rodent hosts and the pathogens they carry. The Andes hantavirus, while deadly, is less transmissible than COVID-19, but its emergence highlights vulnerabilities in global public health systems. Researchers emphasize the need for better surveillance and climate-adaptive strategies to mitigate future risks.
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