Luo Yi-chun: Hantavirus Not Higher Than Previous Years, No Need for Excessive Panic
Taiwan's CDC Director-General Luo Yi-chun announced that Hantavirus cases this year are not higher than in previous years, assuring the public there's no need for excessive panic. While spring and autumn require vigilance, concerted efforts between central and local governments mitigate concerns.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 14:27
- 🔍 Collected: May 5, 2026 at 14:32 (4 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 5, 2026 at 14:37 (5 min after Collected)
Central News
(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, May 5th) With recent reports of rats appearing on the streets of Taipei, the public is concerned about potential epidemics. Luo Yi-chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), explained today that there have been two Hantavirus cases from January to April this year, which is not higher than the same period in previous years, so the public does not need to panic excessively.
Luo Yi-chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control, attended the National Taiwan University Hospital's "Mission Clean – 2026 Ultimate Agent Action" hand hygiene promotion event today and was interviewed by the media beforehand regarding the domestic Hantavirus epidemic.
Luo Yi-chun pointed out that after an elderly man in Taipei was infected and died in January, no new cases have been added in Taipei; instead, one new case was added in New Taipei City at the end of March, and the patient has been successfully discharged after treatment.
Luo Yi-chun explained that this year, there have been a cumulative total of two confirmed Hantavirus cases from January to April, which is exactly the same as the same period in the past four years, indicating no signs of an escalating epidemic. However, spring and autumn are peak breeding seasons for rats each year, and cases may still be reported and confirmed in May to June and October to December, so vigilance should not be relaxed.
Luo Yi-chun said he is pleased that Taipei City is cooperating with the Ministry of Environment to strengthen rat control and balance ecological concerns with public health epidemic prevention. In terms of epidemic surveillance, the CDC will also continue to cooperate with local health bureaus. If a case is reported and confirmed, detailed epidemiological investigations will be immediately conducted around the patient's residence to find possible hiding rats, and collaborate with the Environmental Protection Bureau to complete disinfection.
Regarding the trend of the Hantavirus epidemic, Luo Yi-chun analyzed that with central and local cooperation, there should be no worries about the epidemic continuing to escalate, and the public does not need to panic excessively. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150505
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(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, May 5th) With recent reports of rats appearing on the streets of Taipei, the public is concerned about potential epidemics. Luo Yi-chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), explained today that there have been two Hantavirus cases from January to April this year, which is not higher than the same period in previous years, so the public does not need to panic excessively.
Luo Yi-chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control, attended the National Taiwan University Hospital's "Mission Clean – 2026 Ultimate Agent Action" hand hygiene promotion event today and was interviewed by the media beforehand regarding the domestic Hantavirus epidemic.
Luo Yi-chun pointed out that after an elderly man in Taipei was infected and died in January, no new cases have been added in Taipei; instead, one new case was added in New Taipei City at the end of March, and the patient has been successfully discharged after treatment.
Luo Yi-chun explained that this year, there have been a cumulative total of two confirmed Hantavirus cases from January to April, which is exactly the same as the same period in the past four years, indicating no signs of an escalating epidemic. However, spring and autumn are peak breeding seasons for rats each year, and cases may still be reported and confirmed in May to June and October to December, so vigilance should not be relaxed.
Luo Yi-chun said he is pleased that Taipei City is cooperating with the Ministry of Environment to strengthen rat control and balance ecological concerns with public health epidemic prevention. In terms of epidemic surveillance, the CDC will also continue to cooperate with local health bureaus. If a case is reported and confirmed, detailed epidemiological investigations will be immediately conducted around the patient's residence to find possible hiding rats, and collaborate with the Environmental Protection Bureau to complete disinfection.
Regarding the trend of the Hantavirus epidemic, Luo Yi-chun analyzed that with central and local cooperation, there should be no worries about the epidemic continuing to escalate, and the public does not need to panic excessively. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts. Your every sponsorship is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.