Ministry of Health: No Evidence of Hantavirus Transmission to Humans in Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) states that there is no evidence of hantavirus transmission from rats to humans in Indonesia since the virus was discovered in the country in 1991.

Acting Director General of Disease Control and Prevention at Kemenkes, Andi Saguni, explained that the hantavirus case on the MV Hondius cruise ship is the Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) type, which differs from the hantavirus cases in Indonesia.

“HPS is commonly found in South America and has never been reported in Indonesia, either in humans or rats. Meanwhile, hantavirus cases in Indonesia are the Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) type, which has been found since 1991 with the Seoul virus strain,” he said in Jakarta on Monday.

He emphasised that the HPS on the MV Hondius cruise ship is caused by the Andes virus strain, which in certain studies can transmit between humans through close and prolonged contact; however, for the HFRS type found in Asia and Indonesia, there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission to date.

He also outlined the risk factors for hantavirus transmission, which include contact with rats or shrews through bites, urine, faeces, or contaminated dust.

“At-risk groups include waste workers, farmers, workers in old buildings, flood-prone areas, and outdoor activities such as camping. Globally, hantavirus cases are spread across Europe, America, and Asia. For Indonesia, from 2024 to 2026, there have been 23 HFRS cases recorded, with no HPS findings,” he said.

As of 10 May 2026, there are eight cases, consisting of six confirmed and two probable, with three deaths or a case fatality rate (CFR) of 37.5 per cent. The ship carried 149 people from 23 countries, with no Indonesian nationals on board.

Kemenkes also received a notification from the International Health Regulation National Focal Point in the UK regarding one close contact, a foreign national residing in Central Jakarta, who was on the same flight as the second deceased patient.

However, the PCR laboratory test results for the male foreign national (WNA) with initials KE (60), residing in Central Jakarta, were negative.

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

He confirmed that health centre staff in Senen Sub-district will also continue to monitor the close contact patient.