Thailand Designates Hantavirus as Dangerous Communicable Disease
Thailand's health authorities have designated hantavirus as a dangerous communicable disease, requiring 12-hour investigations and 42-day quarantines for high-risk contacts. The classification grants disease control officers expanded powers
NONTHABURI — May 15, 2026 — Thailand's National Communicable Disease Committee (NCDC) has officially designated hantavirus infection as a dangerous communicable disease, establishing stricter surveillance protocols and requiring disease investigations for patients meeting the criteria within 12 hours, along with a mandatory 42-day quarantine for high-risk contacts, officials announced Friday.
The decision came from the NCDC's second meeting of 2026 held at the Department of Disease Control, chaired by Public Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Somruek Chungsaman. The committee had instructed the Department of Disease Control on May 8 to evaluate whether hantavirus should receive this classification under the Communicable Disease Act of 2015.
A panel of experts convened on May 12 and recommended the designation due to the disease's high severity, potential for respiratory droplet transmission, and evidence that certain strains can spread person-to-person, alongside growing international concern. The classification covers both Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS).
With this approval, hantavirus becomes Thailand's 14th disease on the high-alert list, granting disease control officers broad enforcement powers for isolation measures. Dr. Somruek outlined the clinical criteria: fever exceeding 38°C accompanied by symptoms including chills, muscle pain, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, plus at least one clinical abnormality.
Severe cases may manifest with coughing, breathing difficulties, pneumonia, lung fluid accumulation, shock, low blood pressure, bleeding, acute kidney failure, respiratory failure, and death. The rapid investigation and quarantine protocols aim to enable swift surveillance, prevention, and disease control.
