Health minister urges caution with hantavirus

RADHICA DE SILVA
Senior Multimedia Reporter
[email protected]

Health Minister Dr Lackram Bodoe says the Ministry of Health is carefully monitoring unusual respiratory illnesses in Trinidad and Tobago amid international concern over a cluster of hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship bound for the Canary Islands.

In a Ministry fact sheet issued this week, the ministry said there were currently no confirmed cases of hantavirus in Trinidad and Tobago, but noted that surveillance remained active following reports from the World Health Organization (WHO).

“The Ministry of Health continues to monitor the international and regional situation while maintaining active surveillance for unusual respiratory illnesses amongst the population,” the advisory stated.

The warning comes after the WHO confirmed eight cases of hantavirus, including three deaths, linked to passengers aboard an international cruise ship. According to the WHO, the cases involved the rare Andes strain of the virus, the only known hantavirus strain capable of limited human-to-human transmission through close and prolonged contact with bodily fluids.

Speaking to Guardian Media, consultant in internal medicine and CNC3 host Dr Joel Teelucksingh also urged the public to take rodent control and sanitation seriously, warning that improper cleaning of rodent-infested areas could increase the risk of infection.

“Hantavirus is not usually a cruise ship virus. It doesn’t spread like COVID. It doesn’t jump from person to person in crowded dining halls,” Teelucksingh said.

“It comes from rat urine and droppings that become airborne, especially in enclosed spaces.”

He explained that early symptoms can often resemble other viral illnesses, making diagnosis difficult.

“We know about the non-specific symptoms of many viruses: fever, chills, muscle aches or fatigue. In fact, I think we may have misdiagnosed cases as leptospirosis,” he said.

Teelucksingh warned that some patients can rapidly deteriorate after initial flu-like symptoms.

“Suddenly shortness of breath, fluid-filled lungs and ICU. This is hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), with mortality approaching one in three.”

He added that in severe cases, patients may also develop liver and kidney failure.

Teelucksingh encouraged people to spray rodent droppings before attempting to clean them.

“This is preventable. Seal entry points. Clean safely. Avoid sweeping dry droppings. Ventilate enclosed spaces,” he said.

He added: “Public health is sanitation. Infrastructure. Pest control. The boring things that quietly save lives.”

The ministry also urged members of the public to maintain proper environmental sanitation and rodent control measures to reduce the risk of rodent-borne diseases, including hantavirus and leptospirosis.

Ministry warning

According to the ministry’s advisory, the virus spreads primarily through contact with infected rodents, their urine, droppings or saliva. Infection can occur when contaminated dust particles become airborne and are inhaled, particularly while cleaning rodent-infested areas.

The ministry warned against dry sweeping or vacuuming rodent droppings, saying those actions could release virus particles into the air. Instead, officials recommended a “wet cleaning” method involving disinfectant sprays or diluted bleach solutions before wiping contaminated surfaces.