A man from a rural area, in the department of San José, was declared positive for the disease despite having no contact with horses. “Today he is in good health, after having gone through a more complex situation”, the doctor said.

“Not only people with horses can be infected,” the Minister of Health, Karina Rando said, reminding in a press conference that transmission is also through mosquitoes.

She explained that the patient was diagnosed by a method recommended by the World Health Organization, which detects the antibodies produced by the patient.

Rando explained that in Argentina, there are 39 cases and five deaths.

In Uruguay there are seven patients under follow-up and one confirmed. They are from the departments of San José, Soriano, Rocha, Montevideo, Paysandú and Canelones.

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