WHO and NCDC downplay Hantavirus risks to General Public

The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that the average person has no reason to worry about potential hantavirus infection, following reports of a cluster linked to cruise ship travel.

This assurance comes as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed that no cases of the virus have been recorded within Nigeria.

Dr. Boris Pavlin, an epidemiologist and team lead for Field and Humanitarian Epidemiology at the WHO, clarified the nature of the virus to distinguish it from more easily transmissible diseases.

“This Andes hantavirus has spread in limited amount from human to human, this is not COVID, this is not passing someone in a hallway in an airport outside at a stadium and getting infected,” Dr. Pavlin explained.

Investigations into the recent cluster indicate that the infection likely originated from rodents rather than the region where the ship departed. The specific carrier, the long-tailed rice rat, is common in northern Argentina and Chile.

Dr. Pavlin confirmed that the initial cases on board the MV Hondius had previously traveled to these northern regions. He also noted that while passengers are being monitored as a precautionary measure, no one on board is currently exhibiting symptoms.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus added that while public concern is legitimate, the risk to local residents remains low due to the specific nature of how the disease spreads.

In a public health advisory, NCDC Director General Dr. Jide Idris stated that Nigeria is closely monitoring the global situation and maintaining surveillance for emerging infectious diseases.

The agency emphasized that the risk to the Nigerian public is low, as the current outbreak involves a very limited number of cases.

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents. Human infection typically occurs through direct contact with infected rodents or exposure to their urine, droppings, or saliva. Common symptoms include: Headache and dizziness, Chills and Gastrointestinal issues.

Public health experts advise that the best preventive measures include keeping homes and food storage areas free of rodents and avoiding contact with rodent droppings.

There is currently no specific cure for the virus; instead, treatment focuses on early medical care and supportive therapies such as oxygen and mechanical ventilation