NCDC says no Hantavirus case in Nigeria, sustains surveillance

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has said there is currently no evidence of hantavirus infection in Nigeria, following reports of an ongoing hantavirus cluster linked to international cruise ship travel involving multiple countries.

In a public health advisory issued on Friday, the agency said it was closely monitoring the situation and maintaining surveillance for emerging infectious diseases, adding that the overall risk remains low.

“Current reports indicate that the overall risk to the general public remains low,” the agency stated.

The agency explained that hantaviruses are a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents and can infect humans through contact with infected rodents or exposure to their urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated dust particles.

Read also: WHO confirms five hantavirus cases as cruise ship sails to Spain

It said symptoms of the disease may include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, and gastrointestinal symptoms, while severe cases could lead to breathing difficulties and respiratory complications.

The NCDC noted that while some forms of hantavirus infection can cause severe illness, the disease remains relatively rare.

It added that the current cluster had been linked to the Andes virus strain, one of the few hantavirus strains for which limited human-to-human transmission has previously been documented, particularly through close contact.

As part of preventive measures, the NCDC advised Nigerians to maintain clean environments, prevent rodent infestation, store food properly and dispose of waste safely.

It also urged the public to avoid contact with rodents and their droppings, use protective measures when cleaning rodent-infested areas and maintain regular hand hygiene and infection prevention practices.

The agency further advised Nigerians to rely on verified information from official public health authorities and avoid spreading unverified reports or misinformation.