The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured Nigerians that there is currently no confirmed case of hantavirus in the country despite growing concerns over recent international reports of the disease.
In a public health advisory issued on Friday, the agency said it was closely monitoring developments surrounding a hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship involving passengers from multiple countries.
The reassurance follows rising anxiety on social media, where many Nigerians expressed fears that the virus could spread in a manner similar to COVID-19 and recurrent outbreaks of Lassa fever.
According to the NCDC, there is no evidence suggesting the virus has entered Nigeria, but surveillance for emerging infectious diseases has been strengthened across the country.
The agency explained that hantavirus is a zoonotic disease transmitted mainly through contact with infected rodents, including exposure to their urine, saliva, or droppings.
Health authorities urged Nigerians to maintain clean surroundings, properly store food items, safely dispose of waste, and avoid contact with rodents or rodent-infested areas.
The NCDC also advised citizens to use protective measures while cleaning contaminated environments and to maintain regular hand hygiene practices to reduce possible exposure to infectious diseases.
“The NCDC remains committed to safeguarding public health and will continue to provide timely updates as the situation evolves,” the agency stated.
The public health body further encouraged Nigerians to rely only on verified medical information and report suspicious health concerns through its toll-free emergency line.
The advisory followed an alert earlier issued by the World Health Organization over a hantavirus outbreak connected to a cruise ship carrying 147 passengers and crew members.
According to the WHO, seven cases — including two laboratory-confirmed infections and five suspected cases — were identified between April 6 and April 28. The outbreak reportedly resulted in three deaths, one critically ill patient, and several mild infections.
The WHO said symptoms observed included fever, gastrointestinal complications, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and shock.
Health experts noted that hantavirus symptoms may appear between one and eight weeks after exposure and often begin with flu-like signs such as fever, fatigue, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain.
In severe situations, the disease can progress into respiratory failure or kidney complications depending on the virus strain involved.
Although there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus, global health authorities say prevention remains heavily dependent on rodent control, environmental sanitation, and avoiding exposure to contaminated areas.
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