Overview
- The woman from the rural area of Campo Lavalle in Arrecifes developed symptoms on January 14, was admitted on January 18 to Hospital Municipal Santa Francisca Romana, and died hours later.
- Local health and food safety teams initiated focus-control protocols, and the Rural Zoonosis Department scheduled a home visit after one of her children showed prior symptoms while other relatives remained without symptoms.
- Municipal and provincial authorities said this is the first fatal case recorded in Arrecifes and the fifth death reported in Buenos Aires province over the past month, following fatalities in General Belgrano, Chacabuco, Mar del Plata, and San Andrés de Giles.
- Officials report an above-average hantavirus season with the highest concentration of cases in central Argentina, particularly Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, and Entre Ríos.
- National surveillance counted 77 confirmed cases and 23 deaths through December 27, with recent January fatalities in Buenos Aires adding to those figures as authorities stress ventilation before cleaning, avoiding dry sweeping, using masks and gloves, and disinfecting with diluted bleach.