Health Ministry: Test Results for Foreign National in Close Contact with Hantavirus Case Negative

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has stated that the examination results for a foreign national (WNA) living in Indonesia, who had close contact with a passenger infected with Hanta virus or Hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship, are negative.

Acting Director General of Disease Control and Prevention at Kemenkes, Andi Saguni, stated during an online press conference attended in Jakarta on Monday that on 7 May 2026 at 21:55 WIB, Indonesia received a notification from the International Health Regulations (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) indicating that a male foreign national with initials KE (60), residing in Central Jakarta, had close contact with the victim.

“He is a close contact of the second case (a 69-year-old woman, deceased) and was on the same flight from Saint Helena to Johannesburg. KE’s condition is asymptomatic, but he has comorbidities of uncontrolled hypertension and a history of vaping (e-cigarettes). However, based on laboratory results, the patient has been declared negative for Hantavirus,” he said.

Nevertheless, Andi emphasised that monitoring of the patient will continue strictly, and the individual is currently at Sulianti Saroso Hospital for Infectious Diseases (RSPI).

“Within less than 24 hours since the notification, an investigation has been conducted. The patient’s condition is healthy with no concerning symptoms; observation continues so that the patient can return to his residence for further prevention,” said Andi.

He emphasised that health workers at the Senen Sub-district Community Health Centre will also continue to monitor the close contact patient.

“In accordance with WHO provisions for isolating close contacts, quarantine and active daily monitoring must be carried out; ideally, close contacts should work from home (WFH) and report to health workers if symptoms appear,” he said.

The Hantavirus transmission case originated from an acute respiratory disease cluster on the MV Hondius cruise ship, which sailed across the Atlantic and Africa. The identified virus is Hanta Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) from the Andes strain, known for its high mortality rate and transmission through exposure to rodents.

Nevertheless, Indonesia has not reported any HPS cases to date and has only recorded limited Hantavirus infections of the Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) type since 1991. Kemenkes also stated that there have been no cases of transmission from mice to humans in Indonesia to date.