Why Argentina's Malbrán Institute Focused Investigation on Ushuaia During MV Hondius Hantavirus Outbreak

Argentina's ANLIS-Malbrán institute deployed scientists to Ushuaia following the MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak to investigate an unprecedented epidemiological mystery. A Dutch couple—both ornithologists aged 69 and 70—traveled for four months across Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay visiting bird-watching sites and natural reserves before boarding the cruise ship on April 1. Both died from Andes virus, sparking 11 confirmed cases with three fatalities aboard the vessel. While Tierra del Fuego had never recorded indigenous hantavirus circulation, authorities focused investigation there because the couple's final pre-embarkation stop (March 29–April 1) included bird-watching activities near Ushuaia, including the local landfill. Malbrán sought to determine whether the virus exists in local reservoirs or whether exposure occurred elsewhere during their months-long itinerary. Concurrent sampling in endemic Patagonian provinces leverages existing zoonotic surveillance infrastructure to trace the outbreak's geographic origin.