"What is hantavirus?" is the question posed. It is a zoonotic disease mainly carried by rodents. The Department of Disease Control recommends appropriate prevention methods and emphasizes that infection rates in Thailand remain low. Currently, there is no specific antiviral medication or vaccine.
On 8 May 2026, Dr. Montien Kanasawat, Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, reported on the hantavirus infection situation. This zoonotic disease is mainly transmitted by rodents such as field mice and house mice. At present, Thailand has low infection rates with no widespread outbreaks. However, the public should be well-informed about the disease and proper self-protection.
Dr. Montien explained that hantavirus can infect humans through contact with rodent secretions, including urine, feces, and saliva. The most common infection route is inhaling dust contaminated with these secretions. Next is touching the virus and then touching the nose, mouth, or eyes. In rare cases, infection may occur from rodent bites, though this is uncommon. Human-to-human transmission is very rare and limited to certain virus strains. After entering the body, the virus has an incubation period of about 1 to 8 weeks. Early symptoms resemble the flu, including high fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and digestive issues such as abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Later, patients may develop severe symptoms that can be fatal. Hantavirus infection symptoms are divided into two groups: 1. Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS), found in the Americas, is highly severe. Patients experience coughing, difficulty breathing, pulmonary edema, and can die rapidly.
2. Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), seen in Europe and Asia, involves low blood pressure, abnormal blood clotting causing easy bleeding, and kidney failure.
Dr. Direk Khumpan, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Disease Control, added that disease severity depends on the virus strain. Particularly, respiratory syndrome cases can have a mortality rate of 20 to 40 percent. Patients exhibit coughing, breathing difficulty, pulmonary edema, and shock, which can lead to death. Symptoms can deteriorate rapidly within hours without timely treatment.
Currently, there is no specific antiviral medication or vaccine for hantavirus. Treatment is supportive, such as oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, or dialysis for kidney failure. Prompt medical care upon symptom onset is crucial to reduce mortality. Thailand has low risk, having reported only one patient. The strain found here is less severe than those in the Americas, and no outbreaks have occurred in the country.
Recommendations for the public to prevent hantavirus infection: Focus on minimizing contact between people and rodents, including:
1. Avoid entering enclosed or poorly ventilated areas where rodents may live, such as storage rooms or long-unused buildings.
2. When cleaning suspected rodent-infested areas, avoid sweeping or vacuuming as this can aerosolize the virus. Instead, spray disinfectants like sodium hypochlorite (bleach) to wet surfaces before cleaning.
3. Keep homes and workplaces clean to eliminate food sources and rodent breeding sites. Seal holes and block rodent entry points into buildings.
4. Frequently wash hands with soap and clean water.
"Although hantavirus risk in Thailand is still low, being informed and practicing proper prevention reduces infection chances and enhances public safety effectively. For more information, contact the Department of Disease Control hotline at 1422."