Hantavirus probe reaches Ushuaia, 'end of the world' resort denies being source
Ushuaia, Argentina's southernmost city, has denied being the source of a hantavirus outbreak that triggered global headlines. Specialist teams are now investigating in the city. The outbreak caused alarm in Europe after a cruise ship reached Tenerife with sick passengers.
Ushuaia, in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province, has denied being the source of the hantavirus outbreak that hit headlines across Europe in recent weeks. The BBC, reporting from the city, said local authorities have stressed that no cluster has been detected in the cruise hub.
The outbreak entered the global news cycle after eight passengers on a cruise ship were taken ill on arrival in Tenerife, with three of them dying. European authorities arranged evacuation flights for the remaining passengers. Turkey also said it would repatriate three of its citizens from the affected vessel.
Specialist teams are now investigating possible sources in Ushuaia. Hantavirus is normally transmitted by rodents and, in rare cases, person to person. The World Health Organization has said the outbreak does not represent a COVID-style threat and currently appears manageable.
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