No Evidence Of Hantavirus In Nigeria — NCDC

No Evidence Of Hantavirus In Nigeria — NCDC

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed that there is currently no evidence of hantavirus cases in Nigeria, while reassuring Nigerians that the country remains on heightened surveillance for emerging infectious diseases. The agency said it continues to monitor global health developments and strengthen its systems to quickly detect and respond to any unusual disease patterns.

The NCDC explained that hantaviruses are a group of viruses mainly carried by rodents such as rats and mice. Humans can become infected through direct contact with infected rodents or by exposure to contaminated urine, droppings, saliva, or dust particles from rodent-infested environments.

The agency noted that hantavirus infection, although rare, can lead to serious illness in some cases. It listed symptoms as including fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, and gastrointestinal issues, while severe cases may progress to difficulty breathing and other respiratory complications.

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Health officials also clarified that while some strains of the virus, such as the Andes virus, have been linked to limited human-to-human transmission in rare circumstances, there is no evidence of any such transmission or outbreak in Nigeria.

In a public health advisory, the NCDC stated that the overall risk to the general public remains low but advised Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene and environmental sanitation to reduce exposure to rodents and other disease carriers.

The agency recommended that households and communities keep surroundings clean to prevent rodent infestation, store food securely in sealed containers, dispose of waste properly, avoid contact with rodents and their droppings, and use protective equipment when cleaning contaminated areas. It also encouraged regular handwashing and strict infection prevention practices in both communities and healthcare facilities.

The NCDC further assured Nigerians that the country’s disease surveillance system remains active and capable of detecting and responding to outbreaks. It said lessons from previous public health emergencies, including Lassa fever, COVID-19, cholera, and mpox, have strengthened Nigeria’s preparedness and response capacity.

Officials urged the public not to panic, stressing that there is currently no confirmed case of hantavirus infection in the country. They also warned against misinformation, advising Nigerians to rely only on verified updates from official health sources.

As of the time of filing this report, the NCDC maintains that Nigeria remains free of hantavirus cases while continuing routine monitoring of global and local health threats.

No Evidence Of Hantavirus In Nigeria — NCDC