Puan: Hantavirus surveillance to be strengthened despite several suspects testing negative

We are grateful that the suspected hantavirus cases in Kulon Progo and the foreign national in Jakarta who had close contact with the MV Hondius cluster have been declared negative. However, monitoring and surveillance must continue to be strengthened.

Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani has reminded the government to strengthen hantavirus monitoring and surveillance, even though several suspected cases in various regions of Indonesia have been declared negative.

“We are grateful that the suspected hantavirus cases in Kulon Progo and the foreign national in Jakarta who had close contact with the MV Hondius cluster have been declared negative. However, monitoring and surveillance must continue to be strengthened,” Puan said in her statement in Jakarta on Monday.

According to her, environmental-based disease threats often emerge in areas with uneven healthcare services and environmental oversight capacities. Therefore, the government is urged to strengthen regional preparedness in facing potential outbreaks.

“This includes readiness of healthcare facilities and medical personnel, laboratories and other supporting facilities, as well as early detection and rapid reporting mechanisms. Of course, protecting the public in areas with higher vulnerability levels must be a priority,” she stated.

She said that the House of Representatives, through its relevant working bodies, will ensure that the government acts swiftly, transparently, and is able to provide a sense of security to the public through clear and monitorable steps.

According to Puan, a country’s success in facing health threats is not only measured by the low number of cases, but also by its ability to maintain public calm.

“Also by building public trust and ensuring that every citizen feels protected when facing potential new health risks,” she said.

The WHO received reports of a hantavirus outbreak on the ship on 2 May 2026. Seven out of a total of 147 passengers and crew were reported ill, and three of them died.

In its statement on Tuesday (5/5), the WHO stated that the victims likely became infected before boarding the cruise ship. However, the possibility of human-to-human transmission on the ship cannot be ruled out.

On the other hand, the Kulon Progo District Health Office in the Special Region of Yogyakarta on Sunday (10/5) also stated that a suspected hantavirus case in a local resident was negative based on laboratory examination results.