Doctors in the UAE have reassured residents that hantavirus is not easily spread between people and poses a very different risk compared to Covid-19.
Health authorities, including the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), said the country is closely monitoring the situation while remaining fully prepared to respond to any health threats.
Medical experts told Khaleej Times that hantavirus infections remain rare and are mainly linked to contact with infected rodents or contaminated environments, rather than human-to-human transmission.
The virus, which naturally circulates in rodents, is usually contracted through inhaling particles from rodent urine, droppings or saliva, particularly in dusty or poorly ventilated areas, doctors said.
Experts stressed that unlike Covid-19, hantavirus does not spread easily between people, with only limited cases of human-to-human transmission reported in specific strains in parts of South America.
They added that the risk in the UAE remains low, with higher exposure mainly associated with closed or neglected spaces such as warehouses, farms, or abandoned buildings with rodent activity.
Early symptoms may include fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, chills, nausea and abdominal discomfort, with severe cases potentially leading to breathing difficulties.
Doctors advised residents, especially those cleaning dusty or closed areas, to take basic precautions such as ventilation, wearing masks and gloves, avoiding dry sweeping and maintaining hygiene and pest control, while emphasising that there is no need for public panic.