BANGKOK, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's National Communicable Disease Committee on Friday approved the designation of hantavirus as a "dangerous communicable disease."

According to the Ministry of Public Health, the new mandate requires authorities to report suspected cases within three hours, conduct disease investigations within 12 hours, and enforce a strict 42-day quarantine for high-risk contacts.

Hantavirus, which can spread through respiratory droplets, with certain strains capable of human-to-human transmission, has emerged as a significant global concern and a serious threat, necessitating the designation, the ministry said in a statement.

To ensure a rapid and coordinated response, the ministry said it is implementing an elevated action plan focusing on surveillance, laboratory testing, medical treatment, and local implementation.

Health authorities are stepping up monitoring at international points of entry, with the Department of Disease Control finalizing "Patients Under Investigation" definitions and immediate investigation protocols for domestic cases, alongside the quarantine enforcement, said Somruek Chungsaman, the ministry's permanent secretary.

Somruek said provincial public health offices and hospitals nationwide have been tasked to maintain close surveillance, ensuring facilities report suspected cases within three hours, review treatment protocols, and immediately communicate risks to local populations.

He urged anyone with a history of rodent exposure or recent travel from high-risk areas who develops a high fever and difficulty breathing to seek immediate medical attention to ensure rapid diagnosis and prevent the disease from spreading. ■