The Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine has warned about the danger of hantavirus infection and reminded the rules for protection against infection. In light of reports of hantavirus cases in Europe and Poland, specialists urge to avoid contact with rodents and adhere to safety protocols during cleaning. Radio Liberty reports.
The Center for Public Health explained how hantavirus is transmitted
The spokesperson of the Center for Public Health, Mykola Hanich, explained that hantaviruses are common worldwide and their natural carriers are rodents.
The virus can cause:
- Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
- Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
According to the expert, dozens of cases of hantavirus infection are recorded in Ukraine every year, mainly relating to infections through contact with rodents.
The virus is most often transmitted through dust, surfaces, or food contaminated with mouse or rat droppings.
How to protect against hantavirus infection
The Center for Public Health advises avoiding dust lifting in areas where rodents may have been.
Specialists recommend:
- Do not sweep dry floors in old premises.
- Only conduct wet cleaning.
- Treat surfaces with disinfectants.
- Use rubber or latex gloves.
- Thoroughly wash hands after contact with potentially contaminated items.
Particular attention should be paid to sheds, technical rooms, basements, and houses where rodents have been observed.
WHO is investigating potential human-to-human virus transmission
Health professionals are currently focusing on a case on the cruise ship MV Hondius where an outbreak of hantavirus was recorded.
According to the latest data, eight confirmed or probable cases of infection were found on board. Three people have died.
The World Health Organization does not rule out that in some cases the virus may have been transmitted from person to person through very close contact.
However, the WHO emphasizes that such cases remain rare, and the risk to the public is currently assessed as low.
There is currently no vaccine for hantavirus
Experts remind that a specific vaccine against hantavirus infection has not yet been created.
Therefore, the main method of prevention remains avoiding contact with rodents and following sanitary rules in everyday life.
It should be noted that an outbreak of hantavirus was recorded on the MV Hondius cruise ship, but among the five Ukrainian citizens who are crew members, no signs of infection have been found. The health condition of these individuals is satisfactory, which is confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.