Turkish Chest Disease Professor Explains Hantavirus Transmission from Rodents and Prevention Measures

Professor Şevket Özkaya, a chest disease specialist, clarified hantavirus epidemiology following suspected cases aboard an Atlantic Ocean passenger vessel. The virus is transmitted by rodents (rats and mice); humans become infected by inhaling aerosolized viral particles from contaminated rodent excreta, urine, and nesting debris, especially in poorly ventilated enclosed environments (shelters, barns, attics, garages, storage areas). Early symptoms—fever, myalgia, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting—are often mistaken for influenza. Progression may include dyspnea, cough, and pulmonary edema, warranting immediate hospitalization. Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare. Turkey faces low epidemic risk given limited urban rodent exposure and effective natural pest control by street animals in rural zones. Prevention includes food storage in sealed containers, trash management, rodent entry-point sealing, workspace ventilation, glove and mask use during cleaning, and avoiding direct sweeping of dried feces.