Is hantavirus a risk for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims visiting Saudi Arabia?

No. Hantavirus is not an identified health risk for Hajj or Umrah pilgrims. Saudi Arabia's Arabian Peninsula geography does not support endemic hantavirus circulation: no rodent species carrying pathogenic hantavirus strains (such as Andes virus, Sin Nombre virus, or Puumala virus) are established in the region. WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) does not list hantavirus among zoonotic disease priorities for Saudi Arabia or neighboring Gulf states. The MV Hondius 2026 cluster does not involve any Saudi Arabian, Gulf, or Levantine passengers among confirmed cases or priority contact-tracing lists as of May 2026. For Hajj health priorities, WHO and the Saudi Ministry of Health focus on meningococcal meningitis (ACWY vaccine mandatory for many nationalities), MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), respiratory infections, heat illness, and food safety. No hantavirus-specific measures are required or recommended for travel to Saudi Arabia or any other country in the Middle East and North Africa region.