Hantavirus fears rising? Focus on preparedness, not panic, says Noor Hisham
“I think Covid-19 has taught us a lot about what to do and what not to do."
SHAH ALAM – Just as the world begins to move on from the trauma of Covid-19, renewed global attention on hantavirus is reminding many that infectious disease threats never truly disappear.
While hantavirus is far less contagious than Covid-19 and does not spread easily between humans, former Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the growing concern surrounding the virus should serve as a wake-up call for better public awareness, preparedness and health literacy.
He stressed that public fear should not outweigh scientific facts, especially in an era where misinformation spreads rapidly online.
“Hantavirus is a zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals such as rats or mice to humans.
“It is not airborne. Infection usually occurs through close and prolonged contact with contaminated environments or exposure to the virus,” he said during a sideline interview with Sinar Daily recently.
According to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantaviruses are mainly spread through contact with rodent urine, droppings or saliva, particularly in poorly ventilated or contaminated areas.
In rare cases, certain strains such as the Andes virus have shown limited human-to-human transmission.
The virus can cause severe illnesses including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), a potentially deadly respiratory disease that affects the lungs, as well as haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which affects the kidneys.
Early symptoms often resemble flu-like illnesses, including fever, fatigue, headaches and muscle aches.
Dr Noor Hisham, who is now the UCSI Healthcare Group chairman, said although the risk remains confined to specific environments with rodent exposure, the emergence of zoonotic diseases globally means societies cannot afford to become complacent.
“I think Covid-19 has taught us a lot about what to do and what not to do.
“For example, avoiding crowded places and confined spaces, wearing a mask when necessary and maintaining good hand hygiene. These basic precautions are still very important,” he said.
Recent international reports linked hantavirus concerns to an outbreak involving passengers aboard a cruise ship, prompting monitoring efforts by health authorities overseas, although officials maintained that the overall public risk remained low.
Dr Noor Hisham said one of the biggest lessons from the pandemic was the importance of preparedness and cooperation between agencies, including better coordination between the public and private sectors.
“One key lesson is how we optimise resources, with the public and private sectors working together more effectively.
“These lessons need to be retained and strengthened so we are better prepared for the next outbreak, just like we prepare for floods or other emergencies,” he said.
He added that the Health Ministry and relevant agencies must continuously review policies, response systems and emergency readiness plans to ensure future outbreaks can be handled swiftly and effectively.
Beyond outbreak preparedness, Dr Noor Hisham also highlighted the long-term damage caused by misinformation during public health crises, particularly surrounding vaccines and medical data.
He said public perception was often shaped more by fear than science, citing concerns surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine during the Covid-19 vaccination rollout.
“Generally, there has been no increase in deaths or complications after vaccination. But perception plays a big role,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham explained that while blood clot concerns linked to the vaccine received significant attention, the actual risk remained extremely low compared to risks associated with smoking or Covid-19 infection itself.
“If we also look at Covid-19 infection itself, the risk of blood clot formation is significantly higher compared to vaccination,” he said.
He warned that misinformation and disinformation continue to pose major challenges during health emergencies, often influencing public behaviour more strongly than verified scientific evidence.
At the same time, he stressed that infectious diseases would remain a global concern alongside non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially with the rise of zoonotic outbreaks and antimicrobial resistance.
“We are also seeing more zoonotic diseases. So infectious diseases will always remain a concern for us.
“At the same time, non-communicable diseases are equally important. I think we need to shift the focus from curative care to preventive care,” he said.
Dr Noor Hisham also reminded the public that safeguarding public health should not rely solely on authorities or frontliners.
“I hope people have learned from the pandemic and continue to take care of their health.
“It is not only the responsibility of the Health Ministry or frontliners, but also individuals and families to maintain healthy habits and preventive care,” he said.
A rare cluster of hantavirus infections linked to the MV Hondius expedition cruise ship has drawn international attention, after the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed multiple cases, including deaths among passengers.
The outbreak, which involved the Andes virus strain, a rare variant capable of limited human-to-human transmission has prompted health monitoring across several countries, although global health authorities continue to assess the overall risk as low.
A total of 11 cases have been reported so far, with eight confirmed through laboratory testing and at least three fatalities recorded.
While this is a serious incident, WHO assesses the public health risk as low.
Health authorities said the affected individuals had travelled on the cruise route from Cape Verde towards Tenerife, with investigations pointing to possible exposure during earlier travel in South America, where hantavirus is known to circulate in rodent populations.
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