CYBERJAYA: Malaysia is on full alert to face the hantavirus threat, although no cases involving Malaysians have been recorded.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the approach is crucial as public health challenges are now global in nature, and no country is truly safe without continuous precautionary measures.
"We do not want to be an alarmist, but at the same time, we do not want the people to be complacent by saying that this is happening elsewhere (abroad)," he told reporters after attending the closing ceremony of the National Tobacco Control Conference and Lung Health Summit 2026 here on Sunday (May 10).
He said the ministry’s Institute for Medical Research (IMR) has the capacity to diagnose hantavirus using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology, which is the gold standard for disease detection.
In addition, border control measures at all international entry points have been tightened through health screenings and heightened preparedness at airports, seaports and major gateways by the International Entry Point Health Office.
As part of ongoing preventive measures, Dzulkefly said to date, a total of 22,367 ships and boats have been inspected at Malaysia's entry points, with 2,421 pratique certificates and 1,146 Ship Sanitation Certificates (SSC) issued.
"These measures are ongoing to ensure that vessels entering the country comply with public health requirements and sanitation," he said.
A pratique certificate is an official health clearance issued by port authorities that allows a vessel to enter port, disembark passengers, and operate after being confirmed free of infectious diseases on board.
Previously, Dzulkefly said hantavirus is a rodent-borne virus that can infect humans through air contaminated with animal droppings, urine or saliva.
He said the virus should not be taken lightly, as its complications can be fatal, with the mortality rate for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) reaching 30% to 40%.
International media had earlier reported that European countries have stepped up monitoring and isolation measures following a hantavirus outbreak linked to the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius. - Bernama
