Los Lagos confirms ninth Hantavirus case of 2026; patient in critical condition

The Regional Health Authority of Los Lagos has confirmed the ninth case of Hantavirus in the region this year. The patient, a 37-year-old woman residing in the Palena province, has been transferred to the Biobío Region due to her critical condition. She is currently admitted to an intensive care unit in Concepción, receiving highly specialized medical attention.

According to health officials, the severity of the patient's condition necessitated her transfer to a high-complexity facility. She is currently connected to an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine, a form of life support used when a patient's lungs and heart need time to heal. The Regional Secretary of Health for Los Lagos, Evelyn Bintrup, provided the details of the case.

This latest case brings the total number of Hantavirus diagnoses in the Los Lagos region to nine for 2026. Hantavirus is a serious respiratory illness transmitted by infected rodents. Public health authorities continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the spread and management of the virus in the region.

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Informamos la confirmación de un nuevo caso de Hantavirus en nuestra región. Se trata de una mujer de 37 años, residente de la comuna de Palena, quien debido a la gravedad de su condición clínica fue derivada a un establecimiento de alta complejidad en la ciudad de Concepción, donde actualmente permanece conectada a ECMO