India Activates 165-Laboratory Network to Track Hantavirus After MV Hondius Cases

Q9: Who is the Director of NIV?
A: Dr. Naveen Kumar.

Q10: What are common symptoms of hantavirus?
A: Fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, and breathing difficulty.

Exam-Focused Points

Important Facts for Exams

• India activated a  165-laboratory surveillance network  for hantavirus

• The system operates under the  VRDL Network  (Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory)

• RT-PCR testing  is being used for detection

• Hantavirus mainly spreads through  rodents  (rats, mice)

• It is a  zoonotic disease  (animal to human)

• The  Andes strain  may spread between humans in rare cases through prolonged close contact

• The surveillance move followed reports from the  MV Hondius  cruise ship (8 probable cases, 5 confirmed, 3 deaths)

• Two Indian nationals  on MV Hondius were asymptomatic

• ICMR and NIV  are leading the monitoring effort

• Dr. Naveen Kumar  is Director of NIV

• Other agencies:  NCDC, IDSP

• Hantavirus can cause  haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)  affecting kidneys

• Common symptoms: fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, breathing difficulty

• Prevention: cleanliness, avoiding rodents, hand washing, gloves

• WHO risk assessment:  low public health risk overall