Hantavirus Surveillance And C ontrol of Rodent Population s at Kaohsiung International Port, Taiwan, 2014-2017

Hantavirus syndrome, a zoonosis transmitted by rodents, is a category II notifiable disease in Taiwan. The vector surveillance for the hantavirus syndrome was conducted mainly at international ports. During 2014–2016, 223 rodents were captured at Kaohsiung International Port. The capture rate was the highest in Zhongdauo container area (45.7%), followed by the 3rd container area (23.3%). The rodent poison bait consumption rate was the highest in Zhongdauo container region and the consumption occurred mostly during June and August to October, especially in September. Among rodents, the hantavirus seropositive rate was 11.2%. To further reduce the infection risk of hantavirus to people, a special project responding to high vector hantavirus seropositive rate has been implemented since 2017 to urge the harbor authorities to enhance prevention and control measures against rodents. We suggested that the authorities at international ports should increase empowerment of rodent control, strengthen port sanitation control, and enhance the information feedback and intersectorial communications to reduce the rodent density and protect the health of workers in port areas.