Deadly Virus Outbreak on Cruise Traced to Bird-Watching Stop

A scenic wildlife excursion may have set off a ☠️Deadly chain of events aboard an expedition cruise now at the center of a growing health investigation.

According to the New York Post, authorities believe two passengers on the MV Hondius who later died from 🦠Hantavirus were exposed to the illness during a bird-watching trip in Ushuaia, before ever boarding the vessel.

Investigators say the couple, both from the Netherlands, likely encountered infected rodents while visiting a landfill site during the mid-March excursion. The virus is typically transmitted through inhalation of particles from rodent droppings or urine.

However, officials have acknowledged a major uncertainty in that theory. The surrounding region of Tierra del Fuego had not previously recorded any cases of 🦠Hantavirus, raising questions about how the infection originated.

The couple boarded the ship on March 20 as it departed Argentina for a 35-day voyage.

Weeks later, the 70-year-old man began experiencing symptoms, including fever, headache, abdominal pain and diarrhea.