Man Bitten While Exterminating Rats at Keelung Workplace, Suspected Hantavirus Case with Mild Symptoms and Good Recovery
A man in his 40s was bitten by a rat during pest control at his workplace in Keelung and is a suspected Hantavirus case. He is recovering well from mild symptoms, prompting the city government to intensify environmental disinfection and rodent control efforts.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 12:25
- 🔍 Collected: May 19, 2026 at 12:31 (6 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 19, 2026 at 12:45 (13 min after Collected)
(CNA, Keelung, 19th, by reporter Wang Chao-yu) A suspected Hantavirus case in Keelung involves a man in his 40s. Although not a registered resident of Keelung, he was bitten by a rat while cleaning the basement of his workplace in the city. He developed mild symptoms such as fever and is currently recovering well, expected to be discharged soon.
Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang stated at a press conference this morning that the city government was notified yesterday afternoon by a neighboring county about the suspected Hantavirus case. The individual is not a resident of Keelung but works in the city, where the incident occurred. His recovery is progressing well. The city government will exert maximum effort to carry out cleaning, disinfection, and rodent control operations. Citizens needing assistance can call 1999 for the quickest response.
Chang Hsien-cheng, Director of the Keelung City Health Bureau, pointed out that the case is a man in his 40s who was working in the basement near the parking area of his workplace building in Keelung. Although not a janitor, his work sometimes involved cleaning. He discovered a rat while cleaning and was bitten during the extermination process. The rat that bit him was immediately caught by workplace staff, and the environment was disinfected and the rat disposed of according to protocol.
Chang said the man was bitten on April 7 and developed symptoms on May 2, including mild fever, slight chills, loss of appetite, and weakness. The incubation period is consistent with a typical Hantavirus case. The man sought medical treatment in another county, and the hospital suspected and reported the case on May 7 and May 8. He is currently recovering well and is expected to be discharged within a day or two.
Regarding contacts at the man's workplace and residence, Chang stated that an epidemiological investigation has shown no related symptoms so far. The city government will continue to monitor to ensure there is no human-to-human transmission. Rat traps have also been set up at the man's workplace, and any captured rats will be further tested.
Chang stated that current understanding in Taiwan is that Hantavirus is not transmitted from person to person but can be contracted through two main routes: being bitten by a rat or contact with rat excrement. He reminded citizens not to handle rats with bare hands. If rat droppings are found, they should be cleaned and disinfected with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, soaked for 5 minutes.
Ma Chung-hao, Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, noted that the bureau has been comprehensively strengthening the cleaning of main road drainage ditches since March. The total length cleaned exceeds 500 kilometers, with nearly 600 tons of waste removed. Following guidelines, they will continue to focus on physical prevention, supplemented by chemical methods, for deeper and broader cleaning and disinfection.
Keelung Mayor Hsieh Kuo-liang stated at a press conference this morning that the city government was notified yesterday afternoon by a neighboring county about the suspected Hantavirus case. The individual is not a resident of Keelung but works in the city, where the incident occurred. His recovery is progressing well. The city government will exert maximum effort to carry out cleaning, disinfection, and rodent control operations. Citizens needing assistance can call 1999 for the quickest response.
Chang Hsien-cheng, Director of the Keelung City Health Bureau, pointed out that the case is a man in his 40s who was working in the basement near the parking area of his workplace building in Keelung. Although not a janitor, his work sometimes involved cleaning. He discovered a rat while cleaning and was bitten during the extermination process. The rat that bit him was immediately caught by workplace staff, and the environment was disinfected and the rat disposed of according to protocol.
Chang said the man was bitten on April 7 and developed symptoms on May 2, including mild fever, slight chills, loss of appetite, and weakness. The incubation period is consistent with a typical Hantavirus case. The man sought medical treatment in another county, and the hospital suspected and reported the case on May 7 and May 8. He is currently recovering well and is expected to be discharged within a day or two.
Regarding contacts at the man's workplace and residence, Chang stated that an epidemiological investigation has shown no related symptoms so far. The city government will continue to monitor to ensure there is no human-to-human transmission. Rat traps have also been set up at the man's workplace, and any captured rats will be further tested.
Chang stated that current understanding in Taiwan is that Hantavirus is not transmitted from person to person but can be contracted through two main routes: being bitten by a rat or contact with rat excrement. He reminded citizens not to handle rats with bare hands. If rat droppings are found, they should be cleaned and disinfected with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, soaked for 5 minutes.
Ma Chung-hao, Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, noted that the bureau has been comprehensively strengthening the cleaning of main road drainage ditches since March. The total length cleaned exceeds 500 kilometers, with nearly 600 tons of waste removed. Following guidelines, they will continue to focus on physical prevention, supplemented by chemical methods, for deeper and broader cleaning and disinfection.