NONTHABURI — 15 May 2026, The National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC) of Thailand has approved classifying “hantavirus infection” as a dangerous communicable disease, introducing stricter surveillance, requiring disease investigations for patients meeting the criteria within 12 hours, and a mandatory 42-day quarantine for high-risk contacts, officials said on Friday.

The decision was announced following the NCDC Meeting No. 2/2026 at the Department of Disease Control (DDC) chaired by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Somruek Chungsaman, assigned by Public Health Minister, Pattana Promphat. Dr. Somruek said the committee had previously instructed the Department of Disease Control on 8 May to study whether hantavirus infection should be formally designated a dangerous communicable disease following the Communicable Disease Act of 2015.

To ensure that surveillance, prevention, and disease control measures are implemented effectively according to the level of risk and the current situation, a panel of experts later met on 12 May and concluded that the disease should receive the classification because of its high severity, the potential for transmission through respiratory droplets, and evidence that some strains can spread from person to person, including growing international concern surrounding the virus. The designation covers both Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS).

Dr. Somruek further stated that the meeting has resolved to approve the draft announcement from the Ministry of Public Health regarding the names and primary symptoms of dangerous communicable diseases. This draft will officially add hantavirus infection as the 14th disease on Thailand’s high-alert list, granting disease control officers broad powers to enforce isolation.

Regarding disease investigation, the implementation of orders, such as isolation or quarantine, is intended to facilitate rapid and effective surveillance, prevention, and control. Dr. Somruek said the designated names and key symptoms are defined as follows:

“Hantavirus disease causes fever, chills, headache, muscle pain and fatigue, with some patients also experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. Severe cases may involve coughing, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, fluid accumulation in the lungs, shock, low blood pressure, bleeding, acute kidney failure, respiratory failure and death.”

He continued that the clinical criteria for Hantavirus infection apply to individuals with a fever exceeding 38°C accompanied by at least one of the following symptoms: chills, muscle pain, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. Additionally, at least one clinical abnormality must be detected, categorized under Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS), which includes: abnormal bleeding, low blood pressure, or acute renal failure. Alternatively, they may fall under Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).

Suspected cases must be reported within three hours and disease investigations launched within 12 hours at all levels once a suspected infection is identified. High-risk contacts will be quarantined for 42 days from their last exposure to a suspected or confirmed patient. Anyone developing symptoms during quarantine will be treated as a suspected case and isolated for testing.

Dr. Somruek stated that the measures for surveillance, prevention, and control have been elevated as follows:

• Strengthening surveillance at international entry points as the DDC will establish formal criteria for Patients Under Investigation (PUI) and deploy rapid-response disease investigation protocols if suspected domestic cases emerge, including a 42-day quarantine for high-risk contacts, starting from their last date of contact with the patient, with officials providing continuous health monitoring.
• Upgrading laboratory systems by the Department of Medical Sciences to improve testing speed and accuracy.
• Preparing treatment guidelines and infection prevention measures for hospitals nationwide by the Department of Medical Services.
• Instructing provincial health offices and hospitals to intensify local surveillance, ensure suspected cases are reported within three hours, review treatment protocols, and communicate risks to local communities immediately

Dr. Somruek urged that, “I want to reassure the public to remain confident in Thailand’s disease surveillance system and advise anyone with a history of rodent exposure or travel to high-risk areas who develops high fever or breathing difficulties to seek medical attention immediately and disclose their travel history to doctors. It is crucial to do this as it can ensure a rapid diagnosis and prevent the further spread of the disease.”