Authorities in Argentina 's Tierra del Fuego province are vehemently disputing claims that a deadly hantavirus outbreak, linked to an Atlantic cruise ship , originated within their borders. Instead, they are urging investigations into other Argentine provinces visited by passengers. Local officials in the southernmost South American archipelago reject the assertion by national health authorities that a rubbish dump in Ushuaia was the probable source where two Dutch tourists contracted the virus while bird-watching. "I believe we are facing a smear campaign against this destination" Juan Facundo Petrina, the province’s director of epidemiology, told reporters Friday in a press conference from Ushuaia . He highlighted that federal officials reportedly failed to contact local authorities directly, instead learning of the alleged Ushuaia link through media reports.…