WHO States It Is Not a New Pandemic, Government Urged to Educate Public on Hantavirus
JAKARTA - A member of the House of Representatives Commission IX, Arzeti Bilbina, has urged the government to strengthen efforts to prevent the spread of Hantavirus in Indonesia, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that it is not the beginning of a new pandemic.
At present, she assesses that the most important effort in addressing this health issue is to maintain personal and environmental cleanliness.
“We must respond to this information wisely. Do not panic excessively. Based on the clarification from the World Health Organization (WHO), Hantavirus is not the start of a new pandemic. Our current focus is to strengthen preventive measures through clean and healthy living habits (PHBS),” said Arzeti in her statement on Monday (11/5/2026).
Therefore, clean and healthy living habits are crucial to prevent the virus, which is said to spread from rats and their droppings.
“We can prevent this hantavirus through simple actions such as washing hands with soap regularly, maintaining environmental cleanliness, and ensuring food storage areas are covered and sterile,” said Arzeti.
Although it does not pose a high risk, she has asked the government not to remain silent and to provide health education to the public.
“This effort must be a collective synergy. The government is obliged to provide massive education, while the public plays an active role in maintaining cleanliness starting from their respective homes. This synergy is important so that we can minimise all health risks, no matter how small,” said Arzeti.
Previously, the WHO had confirmed that the Hantavirus outbreak detected on the cruise ship MV Hondius is not the beginning of a new pandemic.
Although it has claimed lives, the UN health agency stated that the overall public health risk remains low.
According to it, Hantavirus spreads through close and direct contact, as reported by BBC on Thursday (7/5/2026).
“This is not COVID, this is not influenza, the way it spreads is very, very different,” said Van Kerkhove in a press briefing on Thursday local time.