Good news! Thailand has not recorded any hantavirus cases, and the overall public health risk remains low. But the Ministry of Public Health is stepping up monitoring at airports, ports, and border checkpoints, particularly for travelers arriving from high-risk regions, as a precautionary measure.

According to the spokesperson for the Department of Disease Control, Dr. Jurai Wongsawat, Hantavirus is carried by rodents such as field and house rats. It spreads mainly through inhaling dust contaminated with rodent urine or droppings in poorly ventilated spaces, not through person-to-person contact, which is extremely rare.

Early symptoms can resemble the flu. In severe cases, respiratory complications may develop. While some strains, particularly those found in parts of South America, have reported fatality rates ranging from 35% to 50%, those variants are not present in Thailand.

How to stay safe?
• Avoid contact with rodents
• Keep your home and workplace clean
• Store food in sealed containers
• Seal any gaps or entry points in buildings
• Use safe cleaning methods in areas that may be contaminated
• Wash hands regularly

If you've had possible exposure to rodents and feel unwell, seek medical screening promptly.

Currently, no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine is available.