BEIJING: Amid the killer coronavirus pandemic that has created fear in the world, another deadly virus — Hantavirus has surfaced in China.
According to China’s Global Times reports, a man from Yunnan Province died shortly after testing positive to Hantavirus.
Shockingly, 32 other people have also been tested with the same virus and are awaiting results.
Following his unexplainable death, Hantavirus has sent the global community into panic and became a trend on social media.
What is hantavirus?
Hanta virus has been around since the 1970s.
According to Centre for Disease and Prevention (CDC), unlike coronavirus that spread in the air, Hantavirus is caused by rodents.
Rodents are carrier
“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,” says Global Times.
It’s not transmitted from human to human, but more from rodents carrying the virus with humans.
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.
It is known as “New World” hantaviruses in America, while in Europe and Asia, it is known as “Old World” hantaviruses.
New World hantaviruses may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), while Old World hantavirus may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).
Symptoms
Hantavirus has a small incubation period and symptoms are almost similar to coronavirus which develop over 1 to 8 weeks.
The initial symptoms for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome includes fever, headache, muscle ache especially in thighs, hips, back.
The person infected with hantavirus may also experience headaches dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea.
The person experience coughing and shortness of breath in case of late symptoms which may be fatal in cases.
Symptoms in case of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome develop within one to two weeks.
Early symptoms include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, chills, nausea, and blurred vision.
In case of late symptoms, the person experience low blood pressure, acute shock, vascular leakage, and acute kidney failure.
Cure
There is no specific treatment, cure or vaccine other than medical care and ICU.
Oxygen therapy will be given to help with respiratory distress. The earlier the patient reaches ICU, the better it is.