Rodent control is key to keeping hantavirus at bay this monsoon, experts warn

People board military buses after being evacuated from the Dutch flagged hantavirus-stricken cruise ship MV Hondius at the port of Granadilla de Abona, in Spain’s Canary Islands on Sunday. PIC/AFP

With the monsoon season just weeks away, public health experts have urged the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and state public health departments to intensify rodent control and sanitation measures amid heightened global concern over hantavirus infections and other monsoon-related ailments.

A hantavirus outbreak recently occurred aboard a luxury cruise ship travelling from the Netherlands to the Atlantic Ocean, where over 180 tourists, including two Indian nationals, were stranded for more than three weeks before the vessel docked at the Canary Islands. Passengers are expected to remain in isolation for 42 days before returning to their home countries.

mid-day reached out to Dr Subhash Hira, professor of global health at the University of Washington and a renowned expert who has served on multiple World Health Organisation (WHO) infectious disease consultative panels, to better understand the risks, transmission patterns, and global preparedness surrounding hantavirus.

Rodent-human contact

"Hantaviruses are primarily spread through contact with infected rodent urine, saliva, or droppings. Humans may contract the infection by inhaling contaminated airborne particles or, less commonly, through rodent bites," Dr Hira said.

Preventive action needed

>>Enhanced rodent monitoring
>>Sanitation drives
>>Strict food storage, waste disposal measures
>>Immediate reporting of rodent sightings

Symptoms mistaken for flu, dengue

"In humans, symptoms usually appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and include fever, muscle pain, respiratory distress and, in some cases, kidney failure," Dr Hira said. He noted that the symptoms are
often confused with influenza, COVID-19, leptospirosis, dengue, or sepsis. Diagnosis is usually confirmed through serological tests detecting hantavirus-specific antibodies or RT-PCR molecular testing.

Vigilance advised

Globally, hantavirus cases remain largely confined to endemic regions in North and South America, as well as parts of Europe and Asia. South American countries such as Argentina, Brazil, and Chile have reported mortality rates of 40-50 per cent in severe cases, while China and South Korea record lower fatality rates ranging between one and 15 per cent.

Authorities advise citizens to...

>>Avoid rodent-infested spaces
>>Wear gloves and masks while cleaning contaminated areas
>>Ensure homes, hotels, and ships remain rodent-free
>>Keep food covered and properly stored
>>Maintain hand hygiene after handling waste or cleaning storage areas

Official Speak

A senior BMC official
‘Our insecticide department is already on the job, and the night rodent clearing squad is also active on the ground. We will intensify the drive in the coming days'

A public health department official
‘We are already on the job, and wherever we get specific complaints from for rodent infestation, our team carry out special drives'

Expert Speak

Dr Subhash Hira, Professor of global health, University of Washington
‘Hantavirus is a rodent-borne infection spread through inhaling contaminated urine, droppings, or saliva. It begins with flu-like symptoms but can rapidly progress to respiratory failure or kidney damage. No specific antiviral exists, so early diagnosis, supportive care, rodent control, sanitation, and public awareness are essential'

Dr Ketan Vagholkar, Professor of surgery, DY Patil Medical College
‘Early symptoms resemble the flu but can rapidly worsen, making timely diagnosis and supportive treatment critical. Prevention through effective rodent control, sanitation, and public awareness remains the best defence'