To Prevent Hantavirus, Central Java Provincial Government to Curb Rat Population

Central Java Provincial Health Office (Dinkes Jateng) intensified surveillance for fever accompanied by acute respiratory distress, including measures to curb the rat population, in order to anticipate hantavirus spread in the Central Java region.

Heri Purnomo, Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Division (P2P) of the Jateng Dinkes, said that so far there have been no hantavirus cases in Central Java. ‘Praise be to God, there have been no hantavirus cases in Central Java in 2026. Hopefully there won’t be any,’ he said in an interview on Tuesday (19 May 2026).

He explained that in 2025, the Central Java Dinkes had found one hantavirus case. ‘According to BRIN Pestorita 2023-2024 research in Demak and Semarang, of 238 leptospirosis cases, 49 tested positive for hantavirus of the Seoul virus (SEOUL),’ said Heri.

Nevertheless, Heri noted that at that time their treatment of those infected with hantavirus did not involve quarantine. ‘Transmission is via rats as well,’ he said.

With concerns about hantavirus spread at present, Heri said they have prepared several preventive measures. ‘First, enhanced surveillance and early detection. The Central Java Dinkes is increasing monitoring of fever reports accompanied by kidney or respiratory impairment, which are hallmark symptoms of hantavirus infection,’ he said.

Second, vector control (rodent control). ‘Given that transmission occurs through droplets or contact with rat excretions (urine, faeces, saliva), the main focus is to reduce the rat population in high-risk areas,’ he said.