Argentina hantavirus cases climb 100% as health officials alert nomads

What officials are warning about

Argentina’s Health Ministry says hantavirus infections have climbed to 101 cases since June 2025, about double the prior year, with a mortality rate near one-third. The virus, spread mainly through infected rodent droppings, urine or saliva, is tied to a climate-driven rodent surge that has moved north from Patagonia.

Bariloche in Río Negro Province confirmed its first 2026 case in early May, when a 45-year-old man was hospitalized with respiratory symptoms. Health officials isolated his contacts and repeated prevention guidance, per the province.

Why nomads and tourists should pay attention

Patagonia spots such as Bariloche and Ushuaia draw tourists, expats and digital nomads who may stay in cabins, hike or spend time in rural areas where rodents nest. Early symptoms can look like a cold or flu at first, including fever, muscle pain, headache and nausea, before progressing to severe breathing trouble.

The Andes strain can also spread from person to person, which makes quick testing and isolation matter when symptoms appear in endemic areas. A recent cruise-linked outbreak near Ushuaia and rising cases in Buenos Aires have kept the alert active, the health ministry said. Read our full nomad news for more travel alerts.

How to reduce the risk

Officials advise airing out closed spaces for 30 minutes or more while wearing an N95 mask, then cleaning rodent traces with 10% bleach and waiting 30 minutes before re-entering. Travelers should seal gaps where rodents can enter, avoid contact with nesting areas and seek medical care right away if flu-like symptoms start in a risk zone.

There’s no vaccine or specific treatment, so hospitals provide supportive care only. For nomads heading to Bariloche or other southern destinations, the safest move is to treat any sudden fever or respiratory symptoms as urgent and get checked fast.