Latest developments around Hantavirus

According to official information published by the World Health Organization (WHO), European authorities, and other health institutes, the variant detected is the Andes virus, a specific type of hantavirus found primarily in Argentina and Chile.

The community needs to know that the Andes virus is the only variant that has been scientifically demonstrated to have limited capacity for human-to-human transmission. International experts emphasize that this type of transmission is rare, and generally requires very close prolonged contact and is not comparable to COVID or Influenza.

So far, international investigations suspect that the first case may have been transmitted in Argentina before they boarded the ship. International reports indicate that the Dutch couple who presented the first symptoms may have been birdwatching in Argentina. Argentina is one of the countries in South America where hantaviruses appear regularly. The majority of cases reported historically are mainly in the southern and Patagonian regions of Argentina, such as Patagonia, Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, and Santa Cruz. These areas are more rural and natural, where contact with infected wild mice is more likely.

Argentine authorities recently reported more than 100 cases during the last period of epidemiological surveillance.
Currently, WHO, ECDC, and CARPHA continue to consider the risk to the global population as "low risk". The international investigation continues, and authorities continue to monitor passengers and close contacts of affected persons.

DVG emphasizes that there is no indication of a direct threat to the community in Aruba. The situation is constantly monitored, and Aruba remains attentive to all official updates from international health authorities.