The present disclosure relates to the ssRNA-specific ribonuclease activity of SAMHD1 (sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain and HD domain-containing protein 1) and its use. It is noteworthy that SAMHD1 has dual catalytic functions which are ribonuclease activity and dNTPase activity: however unlike the dNTPase activity, the ribonuclease activity of SAMHD1 did not require the cofactor dGTP. The present invention can be employed to degrade viral genomic ssRNA and to prevent or treat a ssRNA viral infection.