Ministry of Health Identifies Foreign National in Central Jakarta as Close Contact of Hantavirus, What is the PCR Result?

The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has identified a foreign national residing in Central Jakarta who had close contact with a passenger infected with Hanta Virus or Hantavirus on the MV Hondius cruise ship. On 7 May 2026 at 21:55 WIB, Indonesia received a notification from the International Health Regulation (IHR) National Focal Point (NFP) stating that a 60-year-old male foreign national domiciled in Central Jakarta had close contact with the victim on the cruise ship. “This male is a 60-year-old foreign national living in Central Jakarta. He has no symptoms, but has comorbid hypertension for 10 years that is uncontrolled and uses vaping (e-cigarettes),” said Acting Director General of Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health, Andi Saguni, during a press conference on Monday (11/5/2026). “Once again, the good news from this foreign national is that his PCR test result is negative for Hantavirus,” he said. Andi continued that the foreign national had previously travelled to several places in Argentina from 18 to 30 March. Then, on 31 April, the foreign national had close contact when he arrived in Ushuaia, Argentina, the city where the Hondius cruise ship was travelling. After learning of this, Kemenkes immediately conducted an epidemiological investigation, travel history tracing, and further health examinations for prevention. “The patient’s condition is healthy and there are no worrying symptoms; observation continues so that the patient can return to his residence for further prevention,” he said. “Coordination is carried out regularly with the local Health Office and Community Health Centre, although the patient is currently still at RSPI Sulianti Saroso. We will conduct repeated laboratory examinations every two weeks,” he said.