Bishkek, May 12, 2026 /Kabar/. Kyrgyz Ministry of Health commented on hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius cruise ship, en route from Ushuaia (Argentina) to the Cape Verde Islands (Cape Verde).
According to the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance, the epidemiological situation for infectious diseases in the country remains stable, and monitoring continues on a daily basis. Experts assess the risk of hantavirus infection being imported to Kyrgyzstan as extremely low, with no threat to the general public or tourists.
The ministry emphasized that there is no cause for panic: the risk of infection for most people remains minimal, and simple preventative measures can effectively reduce the likelihood of infection. However, the Ministry of Health recommends caution when traveling outdoors and coming into contact with areas where rodents may be present.
What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a group of viruses that circulate primarily among rodents and, under certain conditions, can be transmitted to humans. Mice, voles, rats, and other small mammals are considered the primary carriers.
It is noted that while the animals themselves may show no signs of illness, they may still carry the virus and shed it into the environment through urine, saliva, and feces.
The virus is named after the Hantan River in South Korea, where a rodent infected with the virus was first discovered in the 1970s.