Health Risks of Rats: Hantavirus Outbreak and Prevention Methods Explained
Rats carry Hantavirus and Leptospirosis through their secretions and excrement. The CDC advises the public to follow the ''Three Nos'' prevention strategy—sealing entry points, maintaining cleanliness, and securing food sources. While some rats show resistance to poison, Taiwan''s current epidemic remains at a low level of prevalence with continuous monitoring by health authorities.
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- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 20:23
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Dr. Huang Chien-hsien, an infectious disease specialist at Shin Kong Hospital, explains that rat secretions such as saliva, claws, and excrement can harbor pathogens like Hantavirus and Leptospira. Additionally, fleas on rats can transmit diseases such as the plague and endemic typhus. Tseng Shu-hui, spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), stated that Hantavirus is primarily carried by rodents. Humans risk infection by inhaling or touching dust or objects contaminated by rodent excreta (feces, urine, saliva) or through bites. The CDC emphasizes the ''Three Nos'' strategy for prevention: ''Don''t let rats come, don''t let them stay, and don''t let them eat.'' This involves sealing gaps in living environments, maintaining cleanliness to prevent nesting, and properly storing food, waste, and pet feed. Tseng also noted that some rats have developed resistance to modern anticoagulants in rat poison, potentially allowing infected rats to survive and continue spreading the virus. From 2017 to the present, Taiwan has recorded 45 cases of Hantavirus syndrome, with the highest numbers in 2020 and 2021. CDC Director-General Lo Yi-chun confirmed that there have been 2 confirmed cases from January to April this year, consistent with the same period over the last four years, indicating that the epidemic is under control and at a low level of prevalence.