Hantavirus Prevention: Shih Chung-liang Urges Local Governments to Establish Special Task Forces for Rat Control
Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang urged local governments to establish special task forces to deal with rat infestations for Hantavirus prevention, following two cases in Taipei and New Taipei cities. He emphasized that the epidemic has not escalated but prevention should focus on the source.
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- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 13:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 3, 2026 at 14:01 (31 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 3, 2026 at 14:09 (7 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-hsuan, Taipei, 3rd) Following two consecutive Hantavirus cases in Taipei and New Taipei cities, there is public concern about whether the epidemic is escalating and if there is a need to establish a forward command post. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang said today that the epidemic has not escalated, and urged local governments to emulate the approach taken in southern Taiwan to contain dengue fever, by having local chief executives form special task forces to deal with rat infestations.
After Taipei City reported its first Hantavirus Syndrome case this year, a 70-year-old male in New Taipei City recently developed symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal discomfort, and was diagnosed as the second case after medical examination. The individual has since been discharged from the hospital and has no history of contact with rats; the source of infection is under investigation. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare has instructed the health and environmental protection bureaus of Taipei City and New Taipei City to collaborate and strengthen environmental cleaning efforts in the areas where the cases were active.
Shih Chung-liang attended the annual meeting of the Taiwan Dermatological Association this morning and was interviewed by the media before the event. When asked about the assessment of the Hantavirus epidemic and whether further prevention strategies, such as establishing an epidemic forward command post, were needed due to cross-regional cases, he said that while there is one case each in Taipei and New Taipei that requires careful attention, the overall epidemic has not significantly escalated, and it is not yet at the stage where the central government needs to establish an epidemic command center.
Shih Chung-liang reiterated that Hantavirus prevention and control should start from the source, which is the vector of transmission. Since prevention work involves environmental protection, health, and other relevant departments, he called on local governments to follow the past practice of southern Taiwan in containing dengue fever outbreaks, by having chief executives form special task forces to integrate cross-departmental resources for prevention and control.
Shih Chung-liang stated that if local governments require assistance from central ministries, whether it be the environmental protection department or the CDC, the central government is willing to provide professional advice. The current focus of prevention should be on controlling rat infestations at the source, based on epidemiological investigation results. “With so many rats, they still need to be dealt with, rather than waiting until the epidemic escalates.” (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150503
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(Central News Agency reporter Chen Chieh-hsuan, Taipei, 3rd) Following two consecutive Hantavirus cases in Taipei and New Taipei cities, there is public concern about whether the epidemic is escalating and if there is a need to establish a forward command post. Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang said today that the epidemic has not escalated, and urged local governments to emulate the approach taken in southern Taiwan to contain dengue fever, by having local chief executives form special task forces to deal with rat infestations.
After Taipei City reported its first Hantavirus Syndrome case this year, a 70-year-old male in New Taipei City recently developed symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal discomfort, and was diagnosed as the second case after medical examination. The individual has since been discharged from the hospital and has no history of contact with rats; the source of infection is under investigation. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare has instructed the health and environmental protection bureaus of Taipei City and New Taipei City to collaborate and strengthen environmental cleaning efforts in the areas where the cases were active.
Shih Chung-liang attended the annual meeting of the Taiwan Dermatological Association this morning and was interviewed by the media before the event. When asked about the assessment of the Hantavirus epidemic and whether further prevention strategies, such as establishing an epidemic forward command post, were needed due to cross-regional cases, he said that while there is one case each in Taipei and New Taipei that requires careful attention, the overall epidemic has not significantly escalated, and it is not yet at the stage where the central government needs to establish an epidemic command center.
Shih Chung-liang reiterated that Hantavirus prevention and control should start from the source, which is the vector of transmission. Since prevention work involves environmental protection, health, and other relevant departments, he called on local governments to follow the past practice of southern Taiwan in containing dengue fever outbreaks, by having chief executives form special task forces to integrate cross-departmental resources for prevention and control.
Shih Chung-liang stated that if local governments require assistance from central ministries, whether it be the environmental protection department or the CDC, the central government is willing to provide professional advice. The current focus of prevention should be on controlling rat infestations at the source, based on epidemiological investigation results. “With so many rats, they still need to be dealt with, rather than waiting until the epidemic escalates.” (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150503
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force 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.