Overview
- The World Health Organization reported on Friday that a crew member repatriated to the Netherlands tested positive, bringing the MV Hondius-linked outbreak to 12 confirmed cases and three deaths.
- Argentina’s ANLIS–Malbrán concluded a field operation in Ushuaia without capturing the long-tailed pygmy rice rat, the species most strongly tied to Andes hantavirus transmission.
- Field teams did capture Abrothrix hirta and Abrothrix olivacea and have sent blood and tissue samples to Buenos Aires for immunological tests that should start within 24–48 hours and later for genomic sequencing.
- WHO says more than 600 possible contacts in about 30 countries remain under follow-up and that a small number of high-risk contacts have yet to be located, while the repatriated case remains isolated.
- Public health authorities warn that Andes hantavirus can incubate for weeks, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral, and sequencing comparisons between clinical and environmental samples will be key to identifying the outbreak source and next steps.