2 days ago amidst the chaos of Covid-19 outbreak, the news of another virus which killed a man in china did rounds. The news went viral and created panic amongst many people across the world. But there is no need to panic or fear this virus as much as we fear Covid-19.
So, what is Hantavirus and what are its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment?
Hantavirus is a group of different RNA viruses that are transmitted to humans by rodents (rats). Hantavirus is supposed to be first identified in 1993 in the United States. It primarily affects the respiratory system and is therefore termed as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). It is mainly transmitted by rats and is not contagious among humans. So there is no need to panic. There is news that Hantavirus outbreak took place in 2012 at a national park in the United States.
Transmission of Hantavirus:
Hantavirus comes in contact with humans by the following:
- Rodent bites
- Rodent excretions/saliva
- The other bodily secretions of rodents/mice/rats.
- Animal urine or rat droppings
How does this virus affect humans?
Hantavirus transfers into your body when you’re bitten by a rodent or if any part of your body is exposed to the bodily secretions of a rodent. The incubation period of the virus is 5 weeks. The symptoms appear after 5 weeks of the virus entry. It affects your respiratory system and the lungs get filled with pulmonary oedema. In other words, this makes respiration tougher that result in shortness of breath and chest pain. The last stage of this virus causes lung congestion, kidney failure and low blood pressure.
Almost 35% of Hantavirus cases result to be fatal. There is a higher mortality rate if you have weakened immunity.
Symptoms of Hantavirus:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Malaise
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Appetite loss
- Fatigue and muscle pains
At later stages, the other symptoms such as haemorrhagic fever, kidney failure and chest pain can be observed. Although, the symptoms are flu-like and usually last for more than 10-15 days only to get worse.
Above all ARE ,Hantavirus Causes Symptoms and Treatment.
There is NO VACCINE for Hantavirus.
However, you can save yourself from being affected by this virus by frequent pest control and by maintaining hygiene. The risk is higher in people who work in places which are the residential sites for rodents such as abandoned construction sites and crawled spaces.
But the good news is, HPS can be treated by early diagnosis and treatment.
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