{
  "id": 3856653,
  "title": "Hantavirus exposure among wildlife farmers in Vietnam: A warning for Southeast Asia",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/hantavirus-exposure-among-wildlife-farmers-in-vietnam-a-warning-for",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-28T01:00:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-hantavirus-exposure-wildlife-farmers-vietnam.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Vietnam, wildlife farming is a widespread practice involving the breeding and trading of wild animals for various purposes. There are approximately 6,744 farms housing 1.8 million animals from 371 species. While these farms provide livelihoods, they also facilitate close contact between humans and wild animals, increasing the risk of zoonotic diseases spreading. A recent outbreak of the Andes hantavirus among 13 cruise ship passengers and the subsequent deaths underscore the potential danger of such exposure.\n\nA 2025 study conducted in Lao Cai and Dong Nai provinces has found that 8.9% of 210 wildlife farmers had anti-hantavirus IgG antibodies, indicating past exposure, and 1.9% showed signs of active infection in the samples collected between August 2023 and March 2024. However, no hantavirus outbreaks were reported during this period. Farmers who merely managed the farms faced the highest risk, even without direct contact with animals, suggesting that poor hygiene and inadequate protective equipment might be contributing factors. The study did not identify the exact source or variant of the virus, emphasizing the need for enhanced surveillance, improved hygiene practices, and the use of protective gear to mitigate the risk of disease transmission.",
  "summary": "Wildlife farming is common in Vietnam, where people breed and trade wild animals for pets, food and traditional medicine.",
  "key_points": [
    "Approximately 6,744 wildlife farms house 1.8 million animals from 371 species in Vietnam.",
    "8.9% of 210 wildlife farmers had anti-hantavirus IgG antibodies in 2025 study.",
    "1.9% of farmers showed signs of active hantavirus infection between August 2023 and March 2024."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The finding that wildlife farmers in Vietnam are exposed to hantavirus highlights a broader health risk in Southeast Asia where similar farming practices are common and may spread zoonotic diseases.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}