Hantavirus in Argentina — 1995

El Bolsón, Patagonia — discovery of Andes virus and first person-to-person hantavirus spread

Overview

1995 was the founding year of Andes virus surveillance. A cluster of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome cases in El Bolsón, Río Negro Province, in northern Patagonia led Argentine and Chilean investigators to isolate a novel hantavirus from long-tailed pygmy rice rats (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus). Sequencing distinguished the new strain — designated Andes virus — from Sin Nombre virus and other South American hantaviruses. Even more importantly, contact-tracing during the outbreak revealed secondary cases occurring in close contacts of index patients in patterns that could not be explained by rodent-only exposure. This gave the first epidemiologic evidence of person-to-person hantavirus transmission, a finding subsequently confirmed in the 2018–2019 Epuyén outbreak.

Argentina baseline

Andes virus — the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission. Patagonia, Salta, and Buenos Aires province dominate.

Source: Boletín Epidemiológico Nacional (Argentina, Ministerio de Salud)

Relevant strain

References & primary sources

• PAHO — Hantavirus

Other years tracked for Argentina