Health Minister Assures Thailand on Hantavirus Monitoring as Tourist Screening Continues
Thailand's health minister says hantavirus has not been detected in the country, with only one Singapore tourist under quarantine in Southeast Asia as authorities screen incoming visitors at all borders.
At a press conference at Government House on May 12, 2025, Health Minister Pattana Prom-pattana stated that hantavirus has not been found in Thailand. In Southeast Asia, only one Singaporean tourist aboard a cruise ship is under quarantine, urging the public not to panic. The minister emphasized that the Public Health Ministry is closely monitoring the situation along with disease control officials, particularly screening tourists entering Thailand by land, sea, and air. He noted that hantavirus is not a new disease and may have multiple strains, with the identified variant capable of person-to-person transmission, though the spread is not rapid and can be controlled with proper precautions.
