Hantavirus is spreading around the globe rapidly, which has raised the question of whether it has also entered Pakistan.
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Monday demanded a detailed response from the KP government over increasing deaths and health risks linked to rat bites in Peshawar and nearby areas, as concerns grow globally over the spread of rodent-borne diseases, including hantavirus.
According to the media reports, the case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad and Justice Babar Sattar during proceedings on a public interest petition related to public health concerns.
During the hearing, petitioner Saifullah Mohib Kakakhel told the court that several families had suffered mental trauma and hardship because of repeated rat attacks, while a number of children had reportedly lost their lives.
Newspaper reports, public complaints and related documents were presented before the court to highlight the seriousness of the issue.
The petitioner’s lawyer argued that the matter was not limited to a few isolated incidents but had become a wider humanitarian and public health concern affecting society as a whole.
The court was asked to direct authorities to take urgent steps to protect citizens, especially children, from further harm.
Justice Waqar Ahmad observed during the hearing that dangerous diseases such as hantavirus can also spread through rats, making the issue more alarming.
Declaring the matter a serious public health concern, the court directed the authorities and respondents to submit a detailed report within two weeks. The next hearing was scheduled for June 15, 2026.
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The court’s remarks came as health authorities worldwide continue to monitor a rare hantavirus outbreak reported earlier this month aboard the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to international health officials, the outbreak resulted in three deaths and infections among passengers from several countries, including the United States, France, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
The health authorities believe the outbreak began after a Dutch couple was exposed to the virus during a bird-watching visit to a landfill site in Ushuaia, Argentina, before boarding the ship in April.
Health experts say hantaviruses are usually transmitted through exposure to infected rodent urine, droppings or saliva, often in poorly sanitised environments.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said the outbreak does not represent the start of a pandemic and described the overall risk to the public as low.
However, medical experts warn that severe cases can cause serious respiratory illness and may carry a high fatality rate.
Symptoms can appear between four and 42 days after exposure and may include fever, muscle pain and breathing difficulties.
Public health experts in Pakistan have repeatedly raised concerns over poor waste management, open garbage sites and increasing rodent populations in densely populated urban areas, warning that such conditions can increase the risk of disease outbreaks.
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