Chile has declared its first health alert for hantavirus after 18 of the country’s 46 cases this year resulted in death, more than double the fatality rate recorded in 2025.
The alert, announced Tuesday, covers most of Chile from the Atacama region in the north to Magallanes in the far south. It will remain in effect until July 2027.
The Ministry of Health said this year’s cases have been reported in 11 regions across central and southern Chile. The 18 deaths represent a fatality rate of 39%, compared with eight deaths among 44 cases in 2025, or 18%.
Hantavirus is endemic in Chile and is transmitted by a long-tailed rodent found in rural and semi-rural areas across much of the country. Health officials said the alert was issued because of the increase in deaths, not because an epidemic is underway or hospitals are overwhelmed.
The measure gives authorities additional powers to strengthen surveillance, hire specialized personnel, acquire supplies and carry out public health controls. It also covers avian influenza and mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever.
Officials asked people to avoid contact with rodents, ventilate buildings that have been closed, disinfect unused spaces with water and bleach, keep food protected and store garbage in closed containers.
Symptoms can include fever, intense muscle pain and difficulty breathing. People who develop symptoms after visiting a rural or semi-rural area were advised to immediately seek medical care and report their possible exposure.
The alert comes after an unrelated outbreak of Andes hantavirus linked to the M/V Hondius cruise ship drew international attention. Thirteen people were infected and three died before the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak contained.
The WHO said the first infections linked to the ship were likely acquired on land before passengers embarked, followed by limited person-to-person transmission during the voyage. Unlike most hantaviruses, Andes virus can sometimes spread between people through close and prolonged contact.