NCDC Issues Warning Over Hantavirus Reports

While there are currently no confirmed cases within the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has moved swiftly to issue a public health advisory following reports of a Hantavirus cluster linked to international cruise ship travel.

The NCDC’s alert comes as a proactive measure to keep Nigerians informed and prepared, despite the agency’s assessment that the overall risk to the general public remains low. By monitoring global trends, health officials are hoping to stay one step ahead of the virus before it reaches Nigerian shores.

Hantaviruses are primarily carried by rodents, and the path to human infection is often through the air we breathe or the surfaces we touch.

According to the NCDC, humans can contract the virus through direct contact with infected rodents or by inhaling dust particles contaminated with their urine, saliva, and droppings.

Once inside the body, the virus can trigger a range of symptoms starting with common fever, fatigue, and body aches, but it can quickly escalate to more dangerous stomach complications and severe respiratory distress, making early awareness a critical line of defense.

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In its advisory, the public health body emphasized that the best way to fight the virus is by making our living and working spaces inhospitable to pests.

The NCDC is urging citizens to maintain strict environmental hygiene, ensure that food is stored in rodent-proof containers, and dispose of waste in a manner that does not attract infestations.

Practicing regular hand hygiene and avoiding any direct contact with rodents or their waste are simple but effective steps that can prevent a local outbreak.

As the agency strengthens its surveillance systems across the country to detect any emerging infectious diseases, it has also issued a stern warning against the “infodemic” of rumors.

With the rise of unverified reports on social media, the NCDC is calling on the public to trust only official health updates and avoid sharing misinformation that could cause unnecessary panic.

For now, the mission is clear: keep homes clean, stay vigilant, and rely on the facts provided by health authorities to keep the nation safe.