Health Ministry: Hantavirus risk in Nepal very low
Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare and occurs only in very close contact situations.
KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has said that the risk of Hantavirus infection in Nepal is extremely low, as the country does not host the rodent species that primarily spread the disease, including those carrying the Andes virus.
Ministry spokesperson Dr. Samir Kumar Adhikari stated that no cases of hantavirus infection have ever been confirmed in Nepal.
He clarified that hantaviruses are rare zoonotic viruses transmitted mainly through contact with urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents.
Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare and occurs only in very close contact situations.
Globally, hantavirus infections remain uncommon but potentially serious.
Depending on the strain, it can cause severe respiratory or kidney-related syndromes, with reported fatality rates ranging from about 1% to over 30% in severe cases such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
However, overall case numbers worldwide remain low, typically limited to sporadic outbreaks rather than sustained transmission.
The ministry has urged the public not to panic or spread misinformation, stressing that official sources should be trusted.
It also warned against unnecessary fear despite recent public concerns.
Preventive guidance has been issued, including maintaining clean surroundings, sealing possible rodent entry points in homes, using masks and gloves while cleaning areas potentially contaminated by rodents, and practicing regular handwashing with soap and water.
People have been advised to seek medical attention immediately if symptoms such as fever, breathing difficulty, or unusual illness appear, although the ministry reiterated that the likelihood of infection in Nepal remains very low.
