Fear Over Outbreak Of Hantavirus In China

By Ayodele Oluwafemi

Fear has gripped some people in the world following the outbreak in China of yet another virus, called Hantavirus, which is being spread by rodents.

The hantavirus is, however, not a new virus unlike the COVID-19.

The outbreak of  COVID-19, popularly called Coronavirus started from the Wuhan Province of China has led to the death of over 17,000 people across the world, leading the World Health Organization (WHO).

It was reported that a man travelling in a bus died on Monday, after being tested positive for Hantavirus, leading to other passengers in bus being monitored by health officials in China.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on its website, Hantavirus is not a new virus, it started in US as far back in 1993 and it became a nationally notifiable disease in 1995.

“Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe, sometimes fatal, respiratory disease in humans caused by infection with hantaviruses. Anyone who comes into contact with rodents that carry hantaviruses is at risk of HPS. Rodent infestation in and around the home remains the primary risk for hantavirus exposure. Even healthy individuals are at risk for HPS infection if exposed to the virus,” CDC noted.

CDC notes that human to human transmission of the Hantavirus is rare unlike Coronavirus, it states that

“Each hantavirus serotype has a specific rodent host species and is spread to people via aerosolized virus that is shed in urine, feces, and saliva, and less frequently by a bite from an infected host. The most important hantavirus in the United States that can cause HPS is the Sin Nombre virus, spread by the deer mouse.”

Rodents urine, feces and saliva are the major host of Hantavirus.

Early Symptoms of Hantavirus, as stated by CDC:

1. Fatigue

2. Fever

3. Muscle aches

4. Headaches

5. Dizziness

6. Abdominal problems – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Late symptoms

1. Lungs fill with fluid

2. Shortness of breath

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