Hantavirus Outbreak on Dutch Cruise Ship Causes Deaths: What Type of Virus is Prevalent in Taiwan? Should We Worry About Human-to-Human Transmission?
A Hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship resulted in 3 deaths, raising global concern. Taiwan has reported 2 Hantavirus deaths this year (Jan-Apr). Experts clarify that most Hantavirus types are not easily transmitted human-to-human, and the Seoul virus prevalent in Taiwan causes milder symptoms, reassuring the public of low risk.
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- 📰 Published: May 6, 2026 at 20:33
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You are a Japanese business intelligence AI. Thoroughly analyze the following press release and simultaneously translate it into English (en) and Traditional Chinese (zh).
## Press Release Information
Title: Hantavirus Outbreak on Dutch Cruise Ship Causes Deaths: What Type of Virus is Prevalent in Taiwan? Should We Worry About Human-to-Human Transmission?
Subtitle:
Company Name:
Industry:
Body (first 8000 characters): There are over 50 types of Hantavirus, with rodents such as rats and house mice as primary hosts. Humans can get infected by coming into contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected animals, with a higher risk of infection in confined or poorly ventilated spaces.
Dr. Lin Shih-pi, a former infectious disease physician at National Taiwan University Hospital and renowned travel blogger, stated that Hantavirus is not a common disease in Taiwan and has never caused a major epidemic. Furthermore, the Hantavirus type primarily detected in Taiwanese rodents is the Seoul virus, which causes milder symptoms.
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS): The incubation period can range from several days to nearly two months, typically 2 to 4 weeks. Typical symptoms include sudden high fever, lower back pain, skin or mucous membrane bleeding, and abnormal kidney function. According to the clinical course, it can be divided into febrile phase, hypotensive phase, oliguric phase, polyuric phase, and convalescent phase, with each phase overlapping. The fatality rate is 5 to 15%, with most deaths occurring during the hypotensive or oliguric phases.
According to the US CDC, there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for Hantavirus; patients can only receive supportive care such as rest, hydration, and symptomatic treatment. Those with severe respiratory distress may require ventilators. Seeking medical attention early helps improve survival rates.
Tseng Shu-hui, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), pointed out on the 5th that from 2017 to this year, a cumulative total of 45 cases of Hantavirus syndrome have been reported nationwide, with more cases in 2020 (11 cases) and 2021 (11 cases). The current assessment is that it is a low-level epidemic in Taiwan, and there are no plans to establish a central epidemic command center. However, various counties and cities have already collaborated across health and environmental units to continuously monitor and prevent the disease.
Central News Agency (CNA) website
(CNA website) The Dutch cruise ship "MV Hondius" recently experienced a Hantavirus outbreak resulting in 3 deaths, attracting high global attention. This year, from January to April, there have been 2 Hantavirus related deaths in Taiwan. Coupled with recent concerns about rat infestations in Taipei City, some people are worried. Experts point out that most Hantaviruses do not effectively transmit human-to-human. What type of virus is prevalent in Taiwan? What are the symptoms? This article provides you with a comprehensive understanding of relevant information.
There are over 50 types of Hantavirus, with rodents such as rats and house mice as primary hosts. Humans can get infected by coming into contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected animals, with a higher risk of infection in confined or poorly ventilated spaces.
The CDC points out that Hantavirus clinical symptoms can mainly be divided into two groups.
"Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome" (HFRS) cases primarily occur in Eurasia. The main prevalent virus types in Asia are Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Seoul virus (SEOV), with more cases in China and South Korea. An estimated 60,000 to 150,000 cases occur globally each year, with China accounting for 70% to 90% of these cases.
"Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome" (HPS) mainly occurs in the Americas. The main prevalent virus type in North America is Sin Nombre virus (SNV), while the main prevalent virus type in South America is Andes virus (ANDV). The Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship "MV Hondius" belongs to this category.
Dr. Lin Shih-pi, a former infectious disease physician at National Taiwan University Hospital and renowned travel blogger, stated that Hantavirus is not a common disease in Taiwan and has never caused a major epidemic. Furthermore, the Hantavirus type primarily detected in Taiwanese rodents is the Seoul virus, which causes milder symptoms.
A report from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa indicates that the Andes virus is currently the only known Hantavirus strain that can be transmitted human-to-human, but this type of transmission is extremely rare and only occurs under extremely close contact.
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS): The incubation period can range from several days to nearly two months, typically 2 to 4 weeks. Typical symptoms include sudden high fever, lower back pain, skin or mucous membrane bleeding, and abnormal kidney function. According to the clinical course, it can be divided into febrile phase, hypotensive phase, oliguric phase, polyuric phase, and convalescent phase, with each phase overlapping. The fatality rate is 5 to 15%, with most deaths occurring during the hypotensive or oliguric phases.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS): The exact incubation period is not definitively established, generally believed to be 6 days to several weeks. Typical symptoms include fever, muscle pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, cough, or shortness of breath, which may subsequently lead to respiratory distress and hypotension. The fatality rate is as high as 35 to 50%. Most survivors can recover their health, with a few cases having sequelae of impaired lung function.
After the Hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that human cases of Hantavirus are rare, usually associated with contact with infected rodents. WHO emphasized that there is no need for panic currently, and the risk to the general public remains low.
Professor Cheng Po-tou of the Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, further pointed out that Hantavirus syndrome cases in Taiwan are mostly related to rodent exposure, and human-to-human transmission is not the mode of transmission. As for whether the Andes virus strain with human-to-human transmission risk could spread to Asia or Taiwan? Professor Cheng Po-tou believes that vigilance is needed but there is no need for excessive panic.
According to the US CDC, there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for Hantavirus; patients can only receive supportive care such as rest, hydration, and symptomatic treatment. Those with severe respiratory distress may require ventilators. Seeking medical attention early helps improve survival rates.
Luo Yi-chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's CDC, also stated that this year, from January to April, Taiwan has accumulated 2 confirmed Hantavirus cases, which is exactly the same as the same period in the past four years. The assessment is that there are no signs of the epidemic escalating. With cooperation between central and local governments, there should be no concern about the epidemic continuing to escalate, and the public does not need to panic excessively. (Editor: Hei Li-an) 1150506
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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 broadcasted, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.
Keywords:
You are a Japanese business intelligence AI. Thoroughly analyze the following press release and simultaneously translate it into English (en) and Traditional Chinese (zh).
## Press Release Information
Title: Hantavirus Outbreak on Dutch Cruise Ship Causes Deaths: What Type of Virus is Prevalent in Taiwan? Should We Worry About Human-to-Human Transmission?
Subtitle:
Company Name:
Industry:
Body (first 8000 characters): There are over 50 types of Hantavirus, with rodents such as rats and house mice as primary hosts. Humans can get infected by coming into contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected animals, with a higher risk of infection in confined or poorly ventilated spaces.
Dr. Lin Shih-pi, a former infectious disease physician at National Taiwan University Hospital and renowned travel blogger, stated that Hantavirus is not a common disease in Taiwan and has never caused a major epidemic. Furthermore, the Hantavirus type primarily detected in Taiwanese rodents is the Seoul virus, which causes milder symptoms.
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS): The incubation period can range from several days to nearly two months, typically 2 to 4 weeks. Typical symptoms include sudden high fever, lower back pain, skin or mucous membrane bleeding, and abnormal kidney function. According to the clinical course, it can be divided into febrile phase, hypotensive phase, oliguric phase, polyuric phase, and convalescent phase, with each phase overlapping. The fatality rate is 5 to 15%, with most deaths occurring during the hypotensive or oliguric phases.
According to the US CDC, there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for Hantavirus; patients can only receive supportive care such as rest, hydration, and symptomatic treatment. Those with severe respiratory distress may require ventilators. Seeking medical attention early helps improve survival rates.
Tseng Shu-hui, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), pointed out on the 5th that from 2017 to this year, a cumulative total of 45 cases of Hantavirus syndrome have been reported nationwide, with more cases in 2020 (11 cases) and 2021 (11 cases). The current assessment is that it is a low-level epidemic in Taiwan, and there are no plans to establish a central epidemic command center. However, various counties and cities have already collaborated across health and environmental units to continuously monitor and prevent the disease.
Central News Agency (CNA) website
(CNA website) The Dutch cruise ship "MV Hondius" recently experienced a Hantavirus outbreak resulting in 3 deaths, attracting high global attention. This year, from January to April, there have been 2 Hantavirus related deaths in Taiwan. Coupled with recent concerns about rat infestations in Taipei City, some people are worried. Experts point out that most Hantaviruses do not effectively transmit human-to-human. What type of virus is prevalent in Taiwan? What are the symptoms? This article provides you with a comprehensive understanding of relevant information.
There are over 50 types of Hantavirus, with rodents such as rats and house mice as primary hosts. Humans can get infected by coming into contact with the urine, feces, or saliva of infected animals, with a higher risk of infection in confined or poorly ventilated spaces.
The CDC points out that Hantavirus clinical symptoms can mainly be divided into two groups.
"Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome" (HFRS) cases primarily occur in Eurasia. The main prevalent virus types in Asia are Hantaan virus (HTNV) and Seoul virus (SEOV), with more cases in China and South Korea. An estimated 60,000 to 150,000 cases occur globally each year, with China accounting for 70% to 90% of these cases.
"Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome" (HPS) mainly occurs in the Americas. The main prevalent virus type in North America is Sin Nombre virus (SNV), while the main prevalent virus type in South America is Andes virus (ANDV). The Hantavirus outbreak on the cruise ship "MV Hondius" belongs to this category.
Dr. Lin Shih-pi, a former infectious disease physician at National Taiwan University Hospital and renowned travel blogger, stated that Hantavirus is not a common disease in Taiwan and has never caused a major epidemic. Furthermore, the Hantavirus type primarily detected in Taiwanese rodents is the Seoul virus, which causes milder symptoms.
A report from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) in South Africa indicates that the Andes virus is currently the only known Hantavirus strain that can be transmitted human-to-human, but this type of transmission is extremely rare and only occurs under extremely close contact.
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS): The incubation period can range from several days to nearly two months, typically 2 to 4 weeks. Typical symptoms include sudden high fever, lower back pain, skin or mucous membrane bleeding, and abnormal kidney function. According to the clinical course, it can be divided into febrile phase, hypotensive phase, oliguric phase, polyuric phase, and convalescent phase, with each phase overlapping. The fatality rate is 5 to 15%, with most deaths occurring during the hypotensive or oliguric phases.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS): The exact incubation period is not definitively established, generally believed to be 6 days to several weeks. Typical symptoms include fever, muscle pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, cough, or shortness of breath, which may subsequently lead to respiratory distress and hypotension. The fatality rate is as high as 35 to 50%. Most survivors can recover their health, with a few cases having sequelae of impaired lung function.
After the Hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that human cases of Hantavirus are rare, usually associated with contact with infected rodents. WHO emphasized that there is no need for panic currently, and the risk to the general public remains low.
Professor Cheng Po-tou of the Department of Molecular Parasitology and Tropical Diseases, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, further pointed out that Hantavirus syndrome cases in Taiwan are mostly related to rodent exposure, and human-to-human transmission is not the mode of transmission. As for whether the Andes virus strain with human-to-human transmission risk could spread to Asia or Taiwan? Professor Cheng Po-tou believes that vigilance is needed but there is no need for excessive panic.
According to the US CDC, there is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for Hantavirus; patients can only receive supportive care such as rest, hydration, and symptomatic treatment. Those with severe respiratory distress may require ventilators. Seeking medical attention early helps improve survival rates.
Luo Yi-chun, Director-General of the Ministry of Health and Welfare's CDC, also stated that this year, from January to April, Taiwan has accumulated 2 confirmed Hantavirus cases, which is exactly the same as the same period in the past four years. The assessment is that there are no signs of the epidemic escalating. With cooperation between central and local governments, there should be no concern about the epidemic continuing to escalate, and the public does not need to panic excessively. (Editor: Hei Li-an) 1150506
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force for protecting 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 broadcasted, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.
Keywords: