The National Communicable Disease Committee has approved the designation "Hantavirus Infection" as a dangerous communicable disease and revealed that individuals with high-risk exposure must undergo a total quarantine of 42 days.
On 15 May 2026, Mr. Patthana Prompat, Minister of Public Health, assigned Dr. Somrak Jungsaman, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, to chair the 2/2026 meeting of the National Communicable Disease Committee. Dr. Somrak stated that following the committee meeting on 8 May, which resolved to have the Department of Disease Control study the appropriateness of classifying hantavirus infection as a dangerous communicable disease under the Communicable Disease Act B.E. 2558 (2015), the aim is to support appropriate legal surveillance, prevention, and control measures proportionate to the risk level and timely with the situation.
Most recently, on 12 May 2026, an expert panel convened to consider classifying hantavirus infection as a dangerous communicable disease. The panel agreed to designate it as such due to its high severity, ability to spread via respiratory droplets, potential for human-to-human transmission in some strains, and global concern. This classification includes both the respiratory syndrome group (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome) and the renal syndrome group (Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome).
Dr. Somrak added that today the committee approved the draft Ministry of Public Health announcement on the name and key symptoms of dangerous communicable diseases (draft version...) B.E. ... (case of hantavirus infection), adding hantavirus infection as the 14th dangerous communicable disease to empower disease control officers legally.
This authority allows officials to investigate, take actions, or issue orders such as isolation or quarantine swiftly and effectively to monitor, prevent, and control the disease. The key symptoms are defined as follows: "(14) Hantavirus Infection (Hantavirus Disease) presents with fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, and may include gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. In severe cases, symptoms include cough, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, shock, low blood pressure, bleeding from various body parts, acute kidney failure, respiratory failure, and possibly death."
The clinical criteria for hantavirus infection are a fever above 38 degrees Celsius and at least one symptom such as chills, muscle pain, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, along with at least one abnormal finding. These include hemorrhagic manifestations, low blood pressure, or acute kidney failure (HFRS group), or respiratory symptoms from hantavirus (HPS group). Cases meeting the investigation criteria must be reported within 3 hours and investigated within 12 hours of suspicion at all levels. High-risk contacts must quarantine for 42 days from last exposure to a suspected or confirmed case. If symptoms develop, they must be treated as suspected cases, requiring isolation and testing.
1. Surveillance: Increased vigilance at border entry and exit points. The Department of Disease Control will define the case definition for Persons Under Investigation (PUI) and establish immediate investigation protocols upon suspected cases domestically. High-risk contacts will be quarantined for 42 days from last exposure, with continuous symptom monitoring by officials.
2. Laboratory testing: The Department of Medical Sciences has developed laboratory systems and protocols for sample collection and testing to provide rapid and accurate confirmation and differentiation of the virus.
3. Medical treatment: The Department of Medical Services has created clinical practice guidelines for patient care and established infection prevention measures in all healthcare facilities.
4. Local mechanisms: Provincial public health offices and hospitals nationwide will conduct close surveillance. Healthcare units detecting suspected cases must report within 3 hours, review treatment protocols, and communicate risk information promptly to the local population.
However, the public is urged to have confidence in the Ministry of Public Health's surveillance system and to cooperate by promptly seeing a doctor and disclosing travel history if experiencing high fever or breathing difficulties after exposure to rodents or returning from risk areas. This is critical for rapid diagnosis and preventing disease spread.