Pandemic Watch
Hantavirus in Argentina AR
Argentina is the global epicentre of Andes virus disease. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was first described in the country in the mid-1990s, and Andes virus was the first hantavirus shown to transmit between people. Cases concentrate in three broad regions: the south-Andean strip from Río Negro through Tierra del Fuego, the northeast around Salta and Jujuy, and the central Pampas. National notification is mandatory.
Circulating strains
Hantavirus strains documented in Argentina. HPS = Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (Americas, predominantly fatal lung involvement). HFRS = Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (Eurasia, kidney involvement).
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- Rodent reservoir
- Long-tailed pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus)
- Case-fatality rate
- 35-40%
- Person-to-person spread
- Documented
The only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission. Andes virus clusters trigger contact-tracing and isolation responses other hantaviruses do not.
Outbreak context
The 1996 El Bolsón outbreak (Río Negro) provided the original evidence of person-to-person transmission. The 2018-2019 Epuyén outbreak (Chubut) produced 11 deaths across multiple transmission generations.
Prevention emphasis
Suspected cases are isolated under respiratory precautions. Close contacts are monitored for 45 days after exposure — the upper bound of the documented incubation period.
Past outbreaks involving Argentina
- Hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship travel, Multi-locations 2026-07-02 3 deaths
- 1997 - Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the Americas 2021-06-08 archived
- Hantavirus Disease – Argentina 2019-01-23 2 deaths
See the complete hantavirus outbreak history for Argentina — year-grouped, with case counts and per-bulletin briefings.
