Addis Ababa, May 13: The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have called on health officials and the general public to remain vigilant and strengthen hantavirus surveillance measures. While the outbreak of this disease is currently considered a low public health risk in Africa, proactive measures are essential.
During a joint technical briefing, Yap Boum, head of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Division at Africa CDC, emphasized the need to enhance monitoring and be prepared for any emergencies. Notably, no cases of hantavirus have been reported across the continent.
Boum highlighted that prevention starts with simple daily actions. He urged health officials and the public to be alert for symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, or difficulty breathing, stressing the importance of early detection and medical assistance.
This call to action follows the discovery of hantavirus infections on the international cruise ship MV Hondius, which was en route from Argentina to Spain’s Canary Islands with 147 passengers.
Experts indicate that while the overall public health risk associated with this disease outbreak in Africa remains low, recent events underscore the importance of vigilance, early detection, and effective risk communication.
Mary-Roseline Belizaire, Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response at the WHO Regional Office for Africa, stated, “Although the current global risk assessment remains low, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that countries are prepared.”
Belizaire further noted, “Preparation should not be equated with panic. It means keeping surveillance and response systems alert, preparing technical teams to identify and manage potential cases, and ensuring that we have appropriate responses based on the situation.”
Experts also stressed the critical need to maintain cleanliness, safely store food, seal entry points to prevent rodent access, and use gloves and disinfectants when handling rodent droppings.
According to Xinhua News Agency, the briefing provided African health officials, professionals, outbreak responders, surveillance teams, and other stakeholders with an overview of hantavirus epidemiology, transmission routes, clinical presentation, and prevention strategies.
Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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