Hantavirus risk in Chile is currently high. The dominant strain is Andes virus. Chile shares the natural rodent reservoir for Andes virus with neighbouring Argentina. Cases occur in central and southern regions year-round.
Chilean health authorities maintain active hantavirus surveillance, particularly in Patagonia and the Aysén and Los Lagos regions. Travel risk is concentrated in rural and remote outdoor environments.
For the live MV Hondius cluster tracker — case counts, timeline, news sources, and regional risk maps — see the main Hanta Hub dashboard.
WHO has not issued specific travel restrictions for Chile in connection with the 2026 hantavirus outbreak. Standard hantavirus prevention applies as it always has — avoid contact with rodents and their habitats, never dry-sweep rodent droppings, and seek prompt care for unexplained fever after rural exposure.
If you are travelling to Chile from a country participating in MV Hondius repatriation, you may receive additional surveillance contact during the WHO-recommended 42-day active monitoring window.
Avoid sleeping in unmaintained rural cabins, outbuildings, or abandoned structures.
Carry an N95 respirator and nitrile gloves if rural cabin clean-up may be needed.
Don't disturb dust in rodent-infested spaces — ventilate for 30 minutes and wet-disinfect first.
Seek emergency care for any flu-like illness with new shortness of breath, especially after rural rodent exposure.
Hantavirus has a one-to-eight-week incubation period, with most cases declaring themselves between two and four weeks after exposure.
If you develop fever, severe muscle aches, or new shortness of breath within eight weeks of possible rodent exposure or contact with a confirmed MV Hondius case, seek emergency care and tell the clinician about the specific exposure history. Survival from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is closely tied to early hospital recognition.
→ See the live MV Hondius tracker, full timeline, and 15 hantavirus news sourcesYes. WHO and Chile's health authorities have not issued travel restrictions. The 2026 MV Hondius cluster is a contained, contact-based event and does not affect the general public-health risk for travellers.
The dominant hantavirus species associated with Chile is Andes virus. Background incidence and clinical severity vary by region and strain.
WHO recommends 42 days of active health monitoring with daily symptom checks for known close-contact exposures (such as MV Hondius repatriated passengers). For general travellers without specific exposure, the standard advice is to seek care for any flu-like illness with breathing difficulty within eight weeks of rural travel.