The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has assured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of hantavirus infection in the country, amid growing global concerns over a recent outbreak linked to international cruise ship travel.
In a public health advisory issued on Friday, the agency said it is closely monitoring the global situation while sustaining surveillance systems for emerging infectious diseases across Nigeria.
The reassurance followed widespread reports about a hantavirus cluster involving passengers aboard a cruise ship travelling across several countries, a development that triggered concerns on social media over fears of another international health emergency.
According to the NCDC, investigations and contact tracing related to the outbreak are ongoing internationally, but available information suggests that the risk to the general public remains low.
The agency explained that hantaviruses are mainly carried by rodents and can infect humans through contact with infected rodents, their urine, saliva, droppings, or contaminated dust particles. Symptoms may include fatigue, fever, body aches, gastrointestinal complications, and in severe situations, breathing difficulties.
Health authorities noted that the current international outbreak has been associated with the Andes virus strain, which has previously shown limited human-to-human transmission, particularly through close contact.
To prevent possible infections, the NCDC advised Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene and rodent control measures. The agency recommended safe food storage, proper waste disposal, avoiding direct contact with rodents and their droppings, and using protective equipment when cleaning rodent-infested areas.
- Nigeria’s First Ebola Patient Identified as Wife of Swiss Diplomat as Authorities Probe Source of Infection
- MURIC Seeks Police Probe into Alleged Killing of Man Inside Oyo Mosque
- NEC Approves 90-Day Economic Plan as Nigerians Await Relief From Rising Living Costs
- Dokubo-Asari Honours Sultan of Sokoto with Leadership Award, Seeks Royal Presence at December Coronation
- Umahi Faults Obi’s Presidential Ambition, Says Southeast Has Other Qualified Contenders
The disease control agency also urged citizens to rely only on verified information from official public health institutions and avoid spreading misinformation capable of causing unnecessary panic.
Nigeria’s disease surveillance system has been strengthened over the years through the activities of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the country’s public health institute responsible for detecting, preventing, and responding to infectious disease outbreaks nationwide.
Public health experts have also reassured Nigerians that although hantavirus can cause severe illness, it remains relatively rare, with preventive environmental hygiene measures considered effective in reducing exposure risks.
