Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will consider adding a hantavirus tracker to the MySejahtera application's Disease Tracker feature if the situation warrants it, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib announced. She emphasized that such an enhancement would allow users to access real-time information on hantavirus more conveniently, while the ministry continues to monitor the situation closely.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hanifah expressed hope that the hantavirus situation would remain under control and not escalate. Drawing from the experience with COVID-19, she stressed the importance of vigilance to prevent the spread of hantavirus. This announcement came during her attendance at the national-level International Nurses Day celebration, where she addressed questions about potential updates to MySejahtera's Disease Tracker feature. This feature currently provides real-time information on diseases like dengue, tuberculosis (TB), measles, hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), COVID-19, and both human and animal rabies.

Hanifah noted that despite reports of three deaths and several infections overseas, the situation is under control, with no signs of the virus spreading to Asia. She stated that coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and related bodies has confirmed that the outbreak remains contained in the affected Western countries.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad highlighted that MOH would maintain vigilant monitoring of global and regional developments to ensure Malaysia's healthcare system and border preparedness remain robust. The hantavirus, a rodent-borne virus, can infect humans through air contaminated with rat droppings, urine, or saliva. The outbreak has prompted several European countries to enhance their monitoring and isolation measures, particularly following an outbreak linked to the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius.