Argentina Faces Hantavirus Outbreak as Thousands to Visit US for World Cup

Key Points:

• Argentina is facing a significant hantavirus outbreak with 101 confirmed infections and 32 deaths since June 2025, nearly doubling cases from the previous year, raising concerns ahead of the World Cup when thousands of Argentine fans will travel to the U.S.
• The Andes virus strain, prevalent in Argentina and Chile, is notable for limited human-to-human transmission, primarily through prolonged close contact, but experts emphasize that the risk of widespread transmission at large outdoor World Cup venues is low.
• U.S. cities hosting Argentina’s World Cup matches, including Kansas City and Dallas, are preparing for large crowds while monitoring the outbreak, with health officials urging reliance on trusted information and emphasizing the importance of rodent avoidance and symptom awareness.
• Despite fears, health authorities including WHO and CDC assess the global risk from the hantavirus outbreak as low, distinguishing it from respiratory pandemics like COVID-19, and stress that casual public interactions at events are unlikely to facilitate virus spread.
• The World Cup is expected to draw tens of thousands of Argentine fans, motivated by the defending champion status of Argentina and Lionel Messi’s likely final tournament, with economic impacts projected but some concerns over travel costs and visa issues affecting attendance.