The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reported an additional hantavirus case in the country. This is the second case reported in 2026 to date.
Besides the Taipei City man in his 70s who was announced in January, the other case this year is from New Taipei City. This man, in his 70s, has a history of chronic diseases such as diabetes. Starting in mid-March, he began experiencing symptoms including fever accompanied by chills, sore throat, muscle aches, decreased urination, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. He sought medical attention at the hospital’s emergency room and was confirmed to have Hantavirus syndrome after testing. He was discharged on March 30th after treatment. There was no history of contact with rats, and no rats were captured near his residence. The source of infection is under investigation.
In response to the locations where cases have occurred, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has supervised the Taipei City and New Taipei City Health Bureaus and Environmental Protection Bureaus to collaborate and strengthen environmental sanitation in the areas where the cases were active. This includes measures such as rat trapping, extermination, and rodent control (using sticky traps, rat cages, and other rodent-proofing methods), as well as cleaning up rat carcasses, excrement, and disinfecting the environment. The Ministry of Environment has also supervised county and city environmental protection bureaus to strengthen routine rat control efforts.
The CDC states the two cases reported to date is the same number as the same period in the past four years (2022-2025). Since 2017, there have been a total of 45 cases, with 30 males (67%) and 30 cases (67%) aged 40 and above. One of these cases was an imported case (from Indonesia).
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated that Hantavirus syndrome is a zoonotic infectious disease. In nature, its main hosts are rodents such as rats. Humans are at risk of infection if they inhale or come into contact with dust or objects contaminated with the excrement or secretions (including feces, urine, and saliva) of rodents carrying the Hantavirus, or if they are bitten by an infected rodent.
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The CDC urges the public to adhere to the “three no’s” principle—”no rats coming, no rats living, no rats eating”—as the most effective way to prevent Hantavirus infection. Residents should be aware of potential rat entry points in their environment, properly dispose of kitchen waste and animal feed, and regularly clean their surroundings. Fire lanes, drainage systems (sewers, drain covers), piles of debris, and walls are hotspots for rodent activity; therefore, rat trapping and extermination efforts should be strengthened in these specific environments. If rodent droppings are found, first wear a mask and rubber gloves, and open doors and windows. Dilute commercially available bleach at a 1:9 ratio (1 part commercial bleach to 9 parts water) and spray it onto the potentially contaminated environment. Allow it to disinfect for 5 minutes before cleaning.
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