Hantavirus: Scientists head to western Argentina to trace outbreak source

Article excerpt

Three people have died in a hantavirus outbreak in Mendoza, Argentina, prompting Argentine and US scientists to fan out across the western region to trap and test rodents for the virus. Hantavirus spreads to humans through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva, and the outbreak has sparked concerns about transmission patterns in the region. Investigators are racing to identify the source and contain further spread, with the collaborative research effort focusing on understanding which rodent species may be carrying the pathogen and how it reached the human population.