Facing Hantavirus, Puan Urges Government to Prioritise Transparency and Speed of Information

House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani has urged the government to prioritise transparency and the speed of information in tackling the emergence of hantavirus in Indonesia. According to her, openness in information is the primary key to preventing public panic while building public trust in the government’s handling. “The government must act more swiftly to provide certainty of information and protection for the public in facing the hantavirus threat, including accurate information so that the public remains calm and does not panic with the emergence of this virus case,” Puan stated in an official statement received by Kompas.com on Monday (11/5/2026). She reminded that the public is now living in a highly sensitive situation regarding health issues post-Covid-19 pandemic. “Therefore, the state needs to ensure that every piece of information regarding infectious diseases is conveyed transparently and responsibly to avoid creating fear or confusion among the public,” Puan said. For context, the hantavirus issue has once again come under global spotlight after an outbreak on the luxury cruise ship MV Hondius, which resulted in the deaths of three passengers. That case has made the global community anxious because one of its variants, the Andes virus, is known to be transmissible between humans under certain conditions. In Indonesia, the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has recorded 23 hantavirus cases spread across nine provinces with three deaths in the last three years. Nevertheless, the type of virus found in Indonesia is said to differ from the variant that triggered the case on the cruise ship. In response to Indonesia’s hantavirus history, Puan emphasised that the emergence of this virus needs to be handled with a calm, open approach based on public protection. As a precautionary step against the spread of hantavirus, Puan urged the government to act quickly to ensure the public fully understands the situation by explaining transmission patterns, the most vulnerable groups, prevention steps, and the risks to the public. She assessed that official explanations from the government must be provided comprehensively to prevent space for disinformation and to accelerate the necessary medical handling.