While the hantavirus is primarily transmitted by rodents, it may also be acquired through domestic animals such as cats and dogs, according to a health expert.
Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID) president Arthur Roman said other animals may become "mechanical vectors" of hantavirus. "While there is no strong evidence that domestic animals can be infected, they can still be mechanical vectors," Roman said in an online media forum on Thursday, May 21, 2026. "If there are rat droppings, a dog or a cat can still slip in the virus even though they are not the actual source," he added.
In April, an outbreak of hantavirus was identified on the Dutch cruise ship M/V Hondius, which had 38 Filipino crew members onboard. Hantavirus is an illness transmitted mainly by rodents and can cause serious illness and death.
For its part, the Department of Health (DOH) said Filipinos should actually be more wary of leptospirosis. In the same online media forum, DOH spokesman Albert Domingo said Filipinos must be more vigilant about the threat of leptospirosis, which is also transmitted by rats. "For us at the DOH, we are more concerned with leptospirosis. That's endemic to us," said the health official.
"Similar precautions are being advised for hantavirus and leptospirosis. And whether it's hantavirus or not, let's not forget what's endemic to us: leptospirosis," Domingo added.
Health authorities continue to monitor the situation and advise the public to maintain cleanliness and avoid contact with rodent droppings to prevent both diseases.
