The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced today (April 19) one new case of Hantavirus syndrome.
The case is a man in his 40s from northern Taiwan who has no recent travel history to domestic or international destinations and no history of chronic diseases.
On April 7, he was bitten by a rat at work and went to the emergency room to have his wound cleaned and receive a tetanus shot.
On May 2, he began to experience fever, chills, and weakness in his limbs and went to a clinic for treatment.
Subsequently, due to the lack of improvement in his symptoms, he went to the emergency room of a hospital and was admitted to the hospital.
After being reported and tested, he was diagnosed with Hantavirus syndrome.
There are 11 people who lived with him and worked with him, none of whom showed any suspected symptoms.
Health authorities have carried out health monitoring of contacts, epidemic investigation, and health education and other prevention and control work, and have conducted rat trapping operations at the case's residence and workplace.
According to the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there have been 3 confirmed cases of Hantavirus syndrome in Taiwan this year (2026), a number comparable to the 2-3 cases reported during the same period in the past four years (2022-2025). Since 2017, there have been a total of 46 cases, with 31 males (67.4%) and 31 cases (67.4%) aged 40 and above.
The CDC stated that Hantavirus syndrome is a zoonotic infectious disease. In nature, rodents are the primary hosts. Humans are at risk of infection through inhalation or contact with dust or objects contaminated by the excrement or secretions (including feces, urine, and saliva) of rodents carrying the Hantavirus, or through bites from infected rodents.
The CDC urges the public to implement measures to prevent rodents from entering, living in, or eating their food, as this is the most effective way to prevent Hantavirus infection. The public should be aware of potential rodent entry points in their environment, properly dispose of kitchen waste and pet food, and regularly clean their surroundings. When cleaning your home, inside and out, if you find rodent droppings, take appropriate personal protective measures, including wearing a mask, plastic or rubber gloves, and opening doors and windows. Sprinkle diluted bleach (1 part commercially available bleach + 9 parts water) onto the potentially contaminated area and allow it to disinfect for 5 minutes before cleaning. To prevent the spread of the virus through the air, use disposable paper towels, rags, or old newspapers to clean up the mess, then seal them in garbage bags before disposal.
For related information, please visit the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw) or call the toll-free epidemic prevention hotline 1922 (or 0800-001922).
Source:
Link: https://www.cdc.gov.tw/Bulletin/Detail/keNVcZqUvZvihL8j2hOBrQ?typeid=9
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