Malaysia on alert following Hantavirus outbreak linked to cruise ship, says Health Ministry

SHAH ALAM – Malaysia is closely monitoring the global Hantavirus situation following the deadly outbreak linked to the international cruise ship MV Hondius, which has so far resulted in eight suspected cases and three deaths.

In a statement posted on Threads today, the Health Ministry said it was aware of international media reports concerning the outbreak, which is currently being monitored by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The ministry stressed that no Hantavirus cases have been reported in Malaysia so far and that the current risk to the public remains low.

“KKM continues to strengthen preparedness and surveillance measures following developments in the global situation through the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) mechanism and WHO international health alert networks,” the statement said.

Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease commonly spread through exposure to urine, droppings or saliva from infected rodents, particularly when contaminated particles become airborne.

Most infections occur sporadically and are linked to environments with rat infestations.

Human-to-human transmission is considered extremely rare and has only been associated with specific strains such as the Andes virus found in South America.

The outbreak involving the MV Hondius has drawn global attention because the Andes strain is among the few hantaviruses known to spread between humans.

According to WHO reports, the outbreak involved passengers travelling between Argentina and the Canary Islands, with symptoms reportedly developing between April 6 and April 28.

Several patients initially experienced fever and gastrointestinal symptoms before their conditions rapidly worsened into pneumonia and severe respiratory complications.

International concern also intensified after the cruise ship was reportedly denied permission to dock in Cape Verde, forcing passengers to remain confined to their cabins while authorities monitored the situation.

KKM said Malaysia had activated several precautionary measures to strengthen national preparedness against any potential imported cases.

These include continuous international surveillance through WHO and IHR networks, sanitation inspections on ships entering Malaysian ports, strengthened monitoring at international entry points and enhanced hospital preparedness for early detection and management of suspected cases.

The ministry added that the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) currently has the capability to conduct Hantavirus confirmation tests, including for new strains such as the Andes virus.

“IMR receives an average of 20 to 30 samples annually for Hantavirus testing, and all results so far have been negative,” the ministry said.

KKM also said cooperation with agencies such as the Border Control and Protection Agency, Veterinary Services Department and local authorities had been strengthened, particularly in vector control and environmental sanitation.

From Jan 1 to May 2 this year, a total of 22,367 ships and boats were inspected at international entry points nationwide.

During the same period, authorities issued 2,421 pratique certificates and 1,146 Ship Sanitation Certificates to ensure vessels complied with international public health and sanitation standards under IHR 2005.

Health experts said hantavirus infections remain relatively rare globally compared to other infectious diseases, although certain strains carry high fatality rates.

The Andes virus belongs to the “New World” Hantavirus category, which is associated with severe lung complications caused by fluid buildup in the lungs.

Experts estimate fatality rates for infections caused by New World strains can reach between 40 and 50 per cent.

Symptoms of Hantavirus infection may appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and often resemble common viral illnesses in the early stages.

Common symptoms include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, chills, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea before progressing to coughing, breathing difficulties and severe respiratory complications.

Health Ministry advised the public to continue practising preventive measures, including avoiding direct contact with rodents and their droppings, using gloves and face masks when cleaning contaminated areas and avoiding dry sweeping or vacuuming rodent waste, which may spread contaminated particles into the air.

The ministry also urged individuals experiencing fever, muscle pain, coughing or breathing difficulties after exposure to high-risk environments to seek immediate medical attention.