Vietnam’s hantavirus warning for Southeast Asia
Taking action to prevent zoonotic disease spillover is better than reacting to an outbreak, especially in countries where people live and work closely with wildlife, such as Vietnam and Indonesia.
Vietnam faces a warning about the hantavirus threat in Southeast Asia. Wildlife farming is prevalent in Vietnam, with over 6,744 farms housing 1.8 million animals from 371 species. However, this close proximity to wildlife increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. The Andes hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship in 2021 resulted in three deaths and infected 13 passengers who likely contracted it by inhaling contaminated dust in South America, where the virus is endemic.
A 2025 study found that 8.9% of wildlife farmers in Vietnam had hantavirus antibodies, indicating previous exposure, and an additional 1.9% showed active infections. Farmers face the highest risk, even if they do not handle, trade, or consume the animals, due to poor hygiene and inadequate protective equipment. The study could not determine the exact virus variant, but genetic testing could identify it.
Better surveillance and safety measures are crucial to prevent spillover and protect both local communities and global health.
Written by urgent.news from The Jakarta Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
