WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS?HantaVirus

 

WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS?

In 1978, a causative agent Korean Hemerologic fever was isolated from small infected rodent field near Hantan river in South Korea.

The virus was named as Hantaan virus, after the name of the river Hantan. This initial discovery dates back to scientific approaches that were initiated after the Korean war (1951-1953), during which more than 3,000 cases of Korean hemorrhagic fever were reported among United Nations (UN) troops.

In 1981, a new genus termed as "hantavirus" was introduced in the Bunyaviridae family, which included the viruses that cause hemoroligic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).

United States's National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) in a journal writes that currently, the hantavirus genus includes more than 21 species

The United State's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on its website, writes that hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied disease syndromes in people across the world.

"Hantaviruses in the Americas are known as 'New World' hantaviruses and may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome [HPS]," CDC says. "Other hantaviruses, known as 'Old World' hantaviruses, are found mostly in Europe and Asia and may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome [HFRS]."

Any human who is around mice or rats that carry harmful hantaviruses can get HPS. Other mammal species (cats, dogs, coyotes) may be infected through contact with rodent hosts, but they are not known to transmit virus.

People get HPS when they breath in hantaviruses. This can happen when rodent urine and droppings that contain a hantavirus are stirred up into the air. People can also become infected when they touch mouse or rat urine, droppings, or nesting materials that contain the virus and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. They can also get HPS from a mouse or rat bite.

In the US, 10 confirmed cases of hantavirus infection in people who visited Yosemite National Park in California, US, in November, 2012, were reported. Similarly, in 2018, an outbreak affecting 100 plus human was reported in Panama and WHO monitored to check the chance of an epidemic spread and no such result came out.

people on social media are panicking about the hantavirus after news circulated that a man in china died of an infection caused by the virus

The panic around the hantavirus seems premature for several reasons human-to-human transmission of hantaviruses doesn't seem to occur the virus spreads mainly by some species of rodents(its main host) if a rodent with the virus bites someone, the virus may spread to that person

if you touch something contaminated with rodent urine,droppings or saliva and then touch your nose or mouth, then you can be infected with the virus

the hantavirus can also be transmitted if you eat food

that is contaminated by urine,dropping or saliva from an infected rodent

"you cannot get these viruses from touching or kissing a person who has the virus CDC "OR from a health care worker who has treated someone with the disease cdc even if human-to-human transmission is possible, travel bans are already put in place which means infected individuals can't leave china or enter into other countries over 1.5 billion people are already in self quarantine and social distancing which won't give the virus a chance to spread as fast as the coronavirus did

The hantavirus can cause the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome(HPS)

in which symptoms could develop between 1 to 8 weeks after exposue Early symptoms include dy cough, body and muscle aches, fatigue, fever sometimes accompanied by headaches, dizziness,chills,diarrhea and abdominal pain 4 to 10 days after the initial phase of illness,the late symptoms of  HPS appear which include coughing and shortness of breath, similar to that of covid-19

HPS can be fatal and has a mortality rate of 38% Diagnosing HPS can be challenging because early symptoms mimic the flu There are currently no tests or known treatments for HPS 

just like covid-19, patients are incubated and given oxygen therapy in order to help them through the period of severe respiratory distress you can prevent hantavirus infection by avoiding any potentials risk activities such as opening and cleaning previously unused buildings, cabins, sheds or garages

use protective clothing and gloves when cleaning in and around your own home to avoid getting in contact with spots that rodent have made their home And wash hands with soap and warm water after taking off your gloves

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF HANTAVIRUS?

If people get HPS, they will feel sick one to five weeks after they were around mice or rats that carried a hantavirus.

*Fever Severe muscle aches Fatigue will be the starting symptoms.

*After a few days they will have a hard time breathing. Sometimes people will have headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

*Usually, people do not have a runny nose, sore throat, or a rash.

Hanta Virus infection can be cured by proper treatment. It's not a dreadly contagious virus so please don't panic by hearing stories.

Reports of a person in China dying due to a virus called hantavirus have spread panic at a time when the world is battling the pandemic of novel coronavirus, which began in China. But as of now there is nothing to be worried it's just a normal case.

The present health studies calls for a rethink and make necessary changes in our lifestyle. Cleanliness, Precautions, be more close to Natural living etc has to be acquired to our routine. Be alert and safe.