Hantaviruses are a family of viruses found worldwide. They are mainly spread to humans through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials. Infection can occur when contaminated dust is disturbed and breathed in, especially during sweeping, cleaning, unpacking, storage handling, or work in enclosed areas where rodents have been present.
Most hantaviruses do not spread easily from person to person. However, public health authorities continue to monitor international developments because some hantavirus types, such as Andes virus, have been associated with rare person-to-person transmission in close-contact settings.
Why This Matters for Statia
Statia imports nearly everything the island uses. This includes food products, household goods, construction materials, vehicles, and commercial supplies. Imported containers, pallets, storage units, cargo holds, and warehouses can create opportunities for rodents to enter, nest, or contaminate goods before, during, or after shipment.
As a public entity of the Netherlands and part of the Caribbean Netherlands, Statia also has strong administrative, travel, trade, and public health connections with the European Netherlands and the wider Kingdom of the Netherlands. These connections make it important for Statia to follow international and Dutch public health guidance, including information from recognised authorities such as WHO, CDC, and RIVM.
How People Can Become Contaminated
A person may be exposed to hantavirus by:
• Breathing in dust contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting material.
• Touching contaminated materials and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Eating food contaminated by rodents.
• Being bitten by an infected rodent, although this is less common.
• Cleaning enclosed areas, warehouses, sheds, containers, cargo spaces, or storage rooms without proper precautions.
The risk is higher in places where there are signs of rodent activity, such as droppings, gnaw marks, nests, damaged packaging, unusual odours, or food contamination.
Symptoms to Watch For
Symptoms can vary depending on the type of hantavirus. Early symptoms may include fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or back pain. In more serious cases, hantavirus infection can affect the lungs or kidneys and may become life-threatening. People who develop symptoms after possible rodent exposure should contact a healthcare provider promptly and mention the exposure.
Prevention: What Residents and Businesses Should Do
The most effective prevention is rodent control and safe cleaning. The Public Health Department urges residents and businesses to take the following steps:
Keep rodents out. Seal holes, gaps, and cracks in homes, shops, warehouses, restaurants, offices, containers, and storage areas. Store food and animal feed in sealed containers. Keep rubbish covered and remove waste regularly.
Inspect imported goods carefully. Importers, supermarkets, shipping agents, warehouse operators, and contractors should check containers, pallets, boxes, and storage areas for signs of rodents before unpacking or distribution.
Do not sweep or vacuum rodent droppings. Sweeping or vacuuming can place contaminated particles into the air. Instead, ventilate the area, wet the droppings or contaminated surfaces with disinfectant, allow the disinfectant to sit, and then clean using disposable materials while wearing gloves. CDC guidance emphasises avoiding direct contact with rodent urine, droppings, saliva, and nesting materials.
Protect workers. Persons cleaning containers, warehouses, cargo areas, sheds, or rodent-contaminated spaces should use appropriate gloves, masks or respirators where necessary, protective clothing, and maintain proper hand hygiene.
Report infestations early. Businesses and residents should act quickly when rodent activity is seen. Early pest control reduces the chance of contamination.
