A person in China dies after testing +ve with hantavirus – what exactly is it?
A man from China’s Yunan area tested +ve for hantavirus on this last Monday. China’s most popular news agency reported that he died while on his way back to the Shandong zone to work on a chartered bus. 32 other different have been tested by the report.
After his death, Hantavirus became a trend on social media, terrifying people that it was another COVID-19 set to create a new epidemic. However, contrary to popular belief and WhatsApp University has schooled us about it, let us check the reality about Huntervirus.
Humans contracting hantaviruses are commonly exposed to rodents transmitting the virus. “Rodent epidemic in and around the house remains the initial risk of hantavirus exposure. Even healthy individuals are at risk of HPS infection; when exposed to the virus. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention stated in its website.
Although HPS cannot be relinquished from person to person. It can be contracted if somebody touches their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching rodent droplets, urine, or nesting substances in the disease. Control and containment states for fact sheets.
Are coronaviruses and hantaviruses the same thing? Here is an explainer
It does not spread from human to human but carries the virus with humans more than rodents.
According to the Global Times report, a Chinese man died of Havantavirus on Monday. Hantavirus is a disease that affects the pulmonary area, as well as the kidney for a long time, medical experts have said. However, in an era where the coronavirus epidemic has caused fear in the world, the virus has become the most searched trend on Twitter due to this case of hantavirus occurring in China.
But how do you contract Hantavirus?
It does not spread from human to human but carries the virus with humans more than rodents. To put things in perspective, a human who comes in contact with the feces or urine of a rodent carrying the virus, even if it is a perfectly healthy person, can still contract the disease.
However, the symptoms are almost identical to those of the coronavirus. Some of the symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, abdominal pain, dizziness, chills and stomach problems such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. About the moiety of all HPS patients experiences these symptoms. Late symptoms include fluid filling in the lungs and shortness of breath.
Should Indians worry about hantaviruses killing a man in China?
However, as coronavirus, the novel coronavirus and hantavirus are completely different, as reported in this New York magazine article that transitions from one human to another. The basis of the virus is similar to a protein present in the lung, which makes it easier for the host to attach itself to the virus that infects the person. There are also cases of animal-to-human infection, as well as a human-to-animal infection. Studies show that humans contracted the virus from bats in China, while two dogs tested positive for coronavirus after interacting with humans, it was reported.
Hantavirus: Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Prevention
Causes
According to the Government of Canada’s Public Health Service, a person can get the disease by detecting virus particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. This can occur when rodent waste is served by vacuuming or sweeping. This may be caused by touching objects or eating food or saliva released into the air. Rat bites can also occur but it is very rare.
Rodent infection in and around the house is the primary risk for the risk of hantavirus. Even healthy people are at risk of HPS disease when shown to the virus.
Signs and symptoms
HPS has a short incubation period and symptoms range from 1 to 8 weeks.
Beginners include:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Muscle ache
- They occur in large muscle groups such as the thighs, hips, back, and shoulders.
- Others include headache, dizziness, chills, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
- Later symptoms include fluid filling in the lungs, which feels like a pillow on one’s face.
Death rate
HPS has a fatality rate of 38%, making it more dangerous than coronavirus.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis is difficult, because symptoms can be confused with influenza; much like coronavirus symptoms. Individuals with fever and fatigue and those exposed to mice should be tested. In India, groups like Rules that hunt rats and snakes have been found vulnerable.
treatment
No specific treatment is other than medical care and ICU where oxygen therapy can help with respiratory distress. The earlier the patient reaches the ICU, the better.
Prevention
Minimize contact with mice at home or at work. Clean properly and use pest control.