TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Hantavirus is a potentially deadly disease that can spread to humans through airborne particles contaminated by infected rodents such as mice, rats, and bats. The virus is commonly transmitted through exposure to rodent urine, feces, or saliva, making proper cleaning and handling of contaminated areas especially important.
Rats are commonly found in residential areas, dirty places, and even in laboratories as experimental animals. The problem is that rats infected with hantavirus do not show symptoms of illness but can spread the virus. Meanwhile, humans do not have natural immunity to the hantavirus. So far, there is no cure or vaccine available to combat the transmission of hantavirus.
According to Dr. Leonardus Widyatmoko, a specialist in clinical microbiology at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital (RSHS) Bandung, there are several ways to interrupt the transmission, including avoiding risky actions, such as sweeping dry areas with rat droppings and disposing of rat carcasses carelessly.
“Safety procedures should be used, such as using disinfectants, chlorine, or alcohol, and personal protective equipment such as gloves and masks,” he said during an online hantavirus awareness session on Monday, May 18, 2026. Before cleaning, ventilation should be opened for 30 minutes to allow air circulation.
According to Leonardus, at-risk workers include forestry workers potentially in contact with field rats’ habitats, old building cleaning personnel, and drainage workers. The post-flood period is also considered a high-risk period for transmission. “Because after floods, rodents are forced to enter residential areas,” he said.
According to the Ministry of Health, anyone of any age, race, ethnic group, and gender has the potential to be exposed to hantavirus when in contact with hantavirus-carrying rodents.
Some risky activities that may lead to hantavirus infection include opening and cleaning cabins, warehouses, barns, and long-unused garages. Then, cleaning houses, construction work, pest control, or camping in rodent-infested areas.
Preventive measures in homes or offices can be taken, such as closing holes inside or outside to prevent the entry of rats, placing rat traps to reduce their population, and protecting food or drinks from potential rodent contamination.
People infected with the hantavirus may experience different clinical manifestations depending on the type of hantavirus that infects them. In Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), patients may experience acute kidney disorders, generally caused by hantavirus types such as Hantaan, Dobrava, Saarema, Seoul, and Puumala, mostly found in Europe and Asia, including Indonesia.
Meanwhile, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) can cause respiratory disorders and is generally caused by the Andes and Sin Nombre viruses, mostly found in America. It is known that the Andes virus can be transmitted among humans. Recently, the Andes virus caused the death of three passengers on a cruise ship sailing from Argentina to Spain.
Read: Hantavirus Patient at Bandung Hospital Dies After Infection
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
