Hou Yu-ih: Hantavirus Case Resides in Linkou, Second City-Wide Disinfection Planned

(CNA Reporter Wang Hung-kuo, New Taipei, 19th) New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih stated today regarding a New Taipei citizen who was bitten by a rat and contracted Hantavirus while working in Keelung, that the case's residence in Linkou "has already been disinfected by us." A second major disinfection will be carried out throughout the city. Before delivering his administrative report to the city council today, Hou Yu-ih addressed the media about the issue of a New Taipei citizen contracting Hantavirus while working in Keelung. He stated that upon receiving the first report, the case's residence in Linkou "had already been disinfected by us." He said they are constantly monitoring the situation and continuously carrying out disinfection to bring the Hantavirus outbreak under control. The city has completed one round of disinfection and will recently conduct a second major disinfection, pushing forward with the environmental cleaning day plan every day with full effort. Subsequently, in the council chamber, many DPP councilors raised questions about the Hantavirus outbreak. DPP Councilor Chang Wei-chien questioned that with cases in three northern Taiwanese cities, the scope is quite large, and it is unknown where the carrier rats are, which is worrying. Health Bureau Director Chen Jun-chiu stated that the case lives in Linkou and was bitten by a rat at work in Keelung, with the onset of illness from April 7 to May 2, a period of nearly one month. Initially, it was a mild case with cold-like symptoms. The patient had visited a nearby clinic and later a hospital in another county/city, and was only reported as a suspected case and tested on May 7. It was not until yesterday that the central government informed them it was a confirmed case. DPP Councilor Li Chien-ping questioned that the case was treated as a common cold, indicating not only insufficient government publicity but also a lack of sensitivity from clinics, and that rats not running from people but biting them is a concern. Chen Jun-chiu stated that the central government has informed them that there is currently no new strain of the virus in Taiwan that can be transmitted from person to person. During the epidemiological investigation, the patient did not inform the doctor of being bitten by a rat when visiting the clinic at the onset of the illness. Therefore, the city government will strengthen publicity and urge the public to take self-protection measures when exterminating rats to prevent being bitten. (Editor: Li Heng-shan) 1150519