Health officials have detected a second hantavirus case in Taiwan this year. The patient is a man in his 70s from New Taipei City. He also has underlying health conditions. Centers for Disease Control spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui announced the finding yesterday. The man suffered from fever, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal discomfort. He received treatment at a local hospital. Doctors discharged him on March 30 after his recovery.
The patient had no known history of contact with rats. Authorities also trapped no rodents near his residence. The source of this hantavirus case remains under investigation. Humans contract the disease through several transmission routes. Inhaling dust contaminated with rodent droppings poses a risk. Touching objects with rodent urine or saliva also spreads the virus. A bite from an infected animal can cause infection as well. Common symptoms include sudden high fever and severe muscle aches. Headache frequently accompanies these signs. Severe cases may lead to fatal lung or kidney failure.
Following this hantavirus case, the CDC has taken immediate action. Officials instructed health and environmental protection teams in Taipei and New Taipei City. These teams must strengthen environmental sanitation in the patient’s active areas. They will focus on reducing potential rodent habitats. The agency aims to prevent further transmission through these measures.
Earlier this year, another hantavirus case occurred in Taipei’s Da’an District. A different man in his 70s tested positive posthumously in January. He died eight days earlier from sepsis with multiple organ failure. Pneumonia also complicated his fatal condition. So far this year, Taiwan has recorded exactly two hantavirus cases. This figure remains consistent with the same period over the past four years. Consequently, officials see no unusual increase in transmission rates. Nevertheless, they urge the public to maintain good environmental hygiene. People should avoid contact with rodents and their waste materials. The CDC continues monitoring for any additional cases in coming weeks.
