The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a public health advisory following reports of a Hantavirus cluster linked to international cruise ship travel involving several countries.
In a statement released on Saturday, the agency clarified that there is currently no confirmed case of Hantavirus in Nigeria and assured the public that the overall risk remains low.
According to the NCDC, Hantaviruses are primarily spread by rodents, with humans becoming infected through contact with infected rodents, their urine, saliva, droppings, or contaminated dust particles.
The agency listed symptoms of the infection to include fever, fatigue, body aches, headaches, stomach-related complications, and breathing difficulties in severe cases.
To reduce the risk of infection, the NCDC advised Nigerians to maintain clean environments, prevent rodent infestation, store food properly, dispose of waste safely, avoid contact with rodents and their droppings, and practise regular hand hygiene.
The agency also stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and strengthening surveillance systems for emerging infectious diseases across the country.
The NCDC urged members of the public to rely only on verified information from official public health authorities and warned against spreading misinformation.
