Argentine 'End of the World' Town Denies Causing Hantavirus Outbreak
The Argentine town of Ushuaia, often called the "end of the world," has rejected claims that it triggered the hantavirus outbreak spreading across Patagonia. Local officials said the outbreak was contained and the tourist season would proceed.
Officials in Ushuaia, the southernmost city of Argentina and a flagship Patagonian tourism hub, have rejected claims that the town is the source of a hantavirus outbreak now affecting parts of the region. Local authorities said cases identified in Ushuaia are traceable and the outbreak began in surrounding rural areas.
Hantavirus is primarily transmitted through contact with rodent excreta and can rarely pass between humans. According to the World Health Organization, most cases reported in Patagonia have come from rural districts near the Chilean border. Argentina's health ministry said additional surveillance teams have been deployed.
Ushuaia officials stressed that the port, the main embarkation point for Antarctic cruises, remains fully operational. Visitors have been advised to choose pest-controlled accommodation and follow basic hygiene guidance, and authorities said the summer tourism season will continue as scheduled.
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