70-Year-Old Man in New Taipei Confirmed with Hantavirus, Second Case This Year After Taipei
A 70-year-old man in New Taipei City has been confirmed with Hantavirus, making it the second case in Taiwan this year, following an earlier case in Taipei. The man experienced fever, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal discomfort but has since been discharged. The source of infection is under investigation, with authorities intensifying environmental cleaning and rodent control efforts.
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- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 17:53
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Shen Pei-Yao Taipei 2nd) Following the first Hantavirus syndrome case this year in Taipei City, a 70-year-old man in New Taipei City recently experienced symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal discomfort, was medically examined and confirmed as the second case. The patient has now been discharged, has no history of contact with rats, and the source of infection is under investigation.
Tseng Shu-Hui, spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, told the media today that regarding the location where the case occurred, the CDC has supervised the Taipei City and New Taipei City health bureaus and environmental protection bureaus to jointly strengthen environmental cleaning efforts in the areas of case activity.
Tseng Shu-Hui stated that in addition to conducting rat trapping, extermination, and anti-rat measures (sticky traps, rat traps, and rat cages), cleaning work and disinfection of environments where rats hide (rat carcasses, rat excrement) and other related prevention and control measures are being carried out. The Ministry of Environment has also supervised county and city environmental protection bureaus to strengthen routine rat prevention and extermination work.
In January this year, the first domestic Hantavirus case occurred in Da'an District, Taipei City, where a 70-year-old man died 8 days after falling ill, and two rats caught around his residence tested positive. At that time, CDC Director Lo Yi-Chun pointed out that this was also the first Hantavirus death case since 1990 (Year 89 of the Republic of China calendar).
According to CDC statistics, there are a total of 2 Hantavirus syndrome cases this year, which is the same as the same period in the past 4 years (2 cases from January to April in the past 4 years).
Tseng Shu-Hui explained the situation of the new case in New Taipei, a man in his 70s with a history of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The patient gradually developed symptoms such as fever accompanied by chills, sore throat, generalized muscle aches, decreased urine output, diarrhea, and loss of appetite since mid-March, and sought emergency medical treatment at a hospital. After medical examination, he was reported and confirmed to have Hantavirus syndrome.
Tseng Shu-Hui stated that the patient was discharged on March 30 after treatment. There was no history of contact with rats, and no rats were caught near his residence. The source of infection is under investigation.
Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-Liang, attending an event in the afternoon and interviewed by the media, emphasized that Hantavirus is a major infectious disease continuously monitored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and currently there is no trend of a surge in the epidemic. "Please rest assured." he said.
"However, the problem of rodents still needs to be solved," Shih Chung-Liang said, because rats are not only related to Hantavirus but also involve other issues such as food safety. The central and local governments should work together to control the rodent problem effectively, as it indeed affects the spread of public health diseases. (Editor: Lung Pai-An) 1150502
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(Central News Agency reporter Shen Pei-Yao Taipei 2nd) Following the first Hantavirus syndrome case this year in Taipei City, a 70-year-old man in New Taipei City recently experienced symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal discomfort, was medically examined and confirmed as the second case. The patient has now been discharged, has no history of contact with rats, and the source of infection is under investigation.
Tseng Shu-Hui, spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, told the media today that regarding the location where the case occurred, the CDC has supervised the Taipei City and New Taipei City health bureaus and environmental protection bureaus to jointly strengthen environmental cleaning efforts in the areas of case activity.
Tseng Shu-Hui stated that in addition to conducting rat trapping, extermination, and anti-rat measures (sticky traps, rat traps, and rat cages), cleaning work and disinfection of environments where rats hide (rat carcasses, rat excrement) and other related prevention and control measures are being carried out. The Ministry of Environment has also supervised county and city environmental protection bureaus to strengthen routine rat prevention and extermination work.
In January this year, the first domestic Hantavirus case occurred in Da'an District, Taipei City, where a 70-year-old man died 8 days after falling ill, and two rats caught around his residence tested positive. At that time, CDC Director Lo Yi-Chun pointed out that this was also the first Hantavirus death case since 1990 (Year 89 of the Republic of China calendar).
According to CDC statistics, there are a total of 2 Hantavirus syndrome cases this year, which is the same as the same period in the past 4 years (2 cases from January to April in the past 4 years).
Tseng Shu-Hui explained the situation of the new case in New Taipei, a man in his 70s with a history of chronic diseases such as diabetes. The patient gradually developed symptoms such as fever accompanied by chills, sore throat, generalized muscle aches, decreased urine output, diarrhea, and loss of appetite since mid-March, and sought emergency medical treatment at a hospital. After medical examination, he was reported and confirmed to have Hantavirus syndrome.
Tseng Shu-Hui stated that the patient was discharged on March 30 after treatment. There was no history of contact with rats, and no rats were caught near his residence. The source of infection is under investigation.
Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-Liang, attending an event in the afternoon and interviewed by the media, emphasized that Hantavirus is a major infectious disease continuously monitored by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and currently there is no trend of a surge in the epidemic. "Please rest assured." he said.
"However, the problem of rodents still needs to be solved," Shih Chung-Liang said, because rats are not only related to Hantavirus but also involve other issues such as food safety. The central and local governments should work together to control the rodent problem effectively, as it indeed affects the spread of public health diseases. (Editor: Lung Pai-An) 1150502
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you provide is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency 'First-hand News' APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.