NCDC issues public advisory on Hantavirus

By Ayorinde Oluokun

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured that the public that there no confirmed case of Hantavirus in the country.

NCDC said this in a public advisory that released to address the recent reports of a Hantavirus cluster linked to international cruise ship travel involving multiple countries.

The Centre said the overall risk of Hantavirus to the Nigerian public remains low.

Nevertheless, NCDC noted in the public advisory that Hantavirus are viruses mainly carried by rodents and human can become infected through contact with infected rodents, their urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated dust.

It listed possible symptoms of the infection by the virus to include fever, fatigue and body aches, headache, stomach-related symptoms and difficulty breathing in severe cases

For protection against the virus, NCDC advises the public to keep their environment clean, prevent rodent infestation, store food properly, dispose waste safely, avoid contact with rodents and their droppings and practice regular hand hygiene.

The NCDC also assured that it is actively monitoring the situation and strengthening surveillance for emerging infectious diseases while urging the public to rely only on verified updates from official public health authorities and avoid spreading misinformation.