The World Health Organization confirmed three deaths and five infections from the rare Andes strain of hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship.Originating from rodent exposure during a tour in Ushuaia, this viral variant is uniquely capable of human-to-human transmission.Health authorities are monitoring the ship as it approaches the Canary Islands while intensifying regional surveillance in Argentina.The current 2025-2026 season has seen record infection levels, marking the first time the pathogen has emerged in the Tierra del Fuego province.