Baku: In connection with reports circulating in the international information space in recent days regarding hantavirus infection, the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Azerbaijan informs the public that the epidemiological situation in the country remains stable and there are no grounds for concern, the Ministry of Health told APA.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, based on information from the World Health Organization (WHO), the organization is coordinating preventive and rapid response measures together with various countries within the framework of the International Health Regulations.

It is noted that people usually become infected through contact with the urine, droppings, or saliva of rodents carrying hantavirus, including by inhaling dust contaminated with rodent excretions. Human-to-human transmission of the virus is extremely rare and has only been observed in connection with the Andes strain found in the Americas.

Azerbaijan is not considered an endemic region for hantavirus, and the virus has not been detected among rodents living in the country. Therefore, hantavirus infection is not included in routine laboratory testing panels in Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, all technical capabilities required for hantavirus testing are available in laboratories specializing in both human and animal health in the country. The Ministry of Health follows WHO recommendations on this issue and cooperates closely with the organization. If necessary - for example, in the case of individuals with relevant clinical symptoms arriving from epidemiologically high-risk countries - examinations will be organized in accordance with clinical protocols.

The Ministry of Health calls on the public to rely only on official sources while the epidemiological situation remains under control. The current situation does not pose any additional risk to the country's population, the statement said.