One Foreign National in Jakarta, Close Contact of Hantavirus, to Undergo Self-Isolation

The Ministry of Health stated that a foreign national residing in Central Jakarta will undergo self-isolation after being identified as a close contact of a passenger on the MV Hondius cruise ship infected with Hantavirus. “That can be done, self-isolation or quarantine,” said Acting Director General of Disease Control and Prevention at the Ministry of Health, Andi Saguni, when met at the Office of the Government Communication Agency in Gambir, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (13/5/2026). “Actually, if we look at the condition of the apartment of this close contact, he is at the highest level on the top floor,” he explained. “And that makes it very possible to carry out self-isolation because it is in accordance with the procedures or protocols in the guidelines issued by the WHO,” he added. “He has been tested with PCR and declared negative,” he emphasised. Previously reported, the Ministry of Health identified a foreign national living 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 National Focal Point stating that a 60-year-old foreign male 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 uncontrolled and uses vaping (electronic cigarettes),” said Andi Saguni during a press conference on Monday (11/5/2026). Andi said that his side immediately responded quickly to the report by taking specimens from serum, urine, saliva, throat swab, and whole blood from the foreign national. “Once again, the good news from this foreigner is that the PCR test results are negative for Hantavirus,” he said. Andi continued that the foreign national had previously travelled to several places in Argentina from 18 to 30 March. After learning that, the Ministry of Health immediately conducted epidemiological investigations, 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. The Ministry of Health also asked the Senen Sub-district Health Centre to monitor the close contact foreign national patient on an ongoing basis in accordance with the WHO’s close contact isolation guidelines. “Coordination is carried out with the local Health Service and Health Centre regularly, even though the patient is currently still at Sulianti Saroso Hospital for Infectious Diseases. We will carry out repeated laboratory examinations every two weeks,” he said.