TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hantavirus has recently drawn growing global attention, prompting health experts from the Faculty of Medicine at Airlangga University (Unair) to raise awareness about the virus, its transmission, and preventive measures.
Agung Dwi Wahyu, a clinical microbiology expert and administrator at the Indonesian Infection Control Association (Perdalin) Surabaya, said Hantavirus is an RNA virus primarily transmitted by rodents such as wild rats. Humans are mainly infected through inhaling aerosol particles contaminated by the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents.
According to Agung, Hantavirus can cause two severe illnesses: Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), which affects kidney function and causes hemorrhagic fever, and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), a serious respiratory disease with a high mortality rate.
“Although human-to-human transmission is very rare, vigilance must still be increased, especially by maintaining environmental cleanliness and preventing rat infestations,” Agung said in a written statement on Thursday, May 14, 2026.
He emphasized that effective rodent control is the key to preventing the spread of the virus. Recommended measures include routine inspections to block rats from entering homes and health facilities.
Other preventive efforts include disinfecting high-risk areas using a 0.1 percent chlorine solution or standard hospital disinfectants, as well as ensuring the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health workers handling suspected cases.
“The use of Personal Protective Equipment is very important when dealing with suspected patients,” he said.
Agung also stressed the importance of public education, particularly in helping families understand the dangers of direct exposure to dust or areas contaminated by rat droppings.
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