Hantavirus Explained:New virus in China

Hantavirus Explained: Causes The laughing virus killed in China by social media

CDC says: “Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied disease syndromes in people worldwide. Each hantavirus serotype has a specific rodent host species and is spread to people via an aerosolized virus that is shed in urine, feces, and saliva, and less frequently by a bite from an infected host. It is spread by the deer mouse.”

A man from China’s Yunnan province tested positive for the Hantavirus on Monday leading to some panic among citizens of the world who are still reeling from the Wuhan coronavirus.

Now before we panic, it’s important to understand that the Hantavirus which causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

But it’s important to understand that it's caused by rodents.

CDC says: “Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied disease syndromes in people worldwide. Each hantavirus serotype has a specific rodent host species and is spread to people via an 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.”

There have been sporadic cases in India. In 2008, the Hantavirus struck the Irulas, a group of snake and rat catchers.

In 2016, a 12-year-old in Mumbai had died of the hantavirus infections.

hantavirus Causes

According to the Govt of Canada’s Public Health Service, one can get the disease by inhaling virus particles from rodent urine, droppings or saliva. It can happen when rodent waste is served up from vacuuming or sweeping. It can be caused due to touching objects or eating food or saliva that has been released in the air. Rat bites can also cause it but it’s very rare.

The CDC: “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.”

hantavirus Signs & Symptoms

HPS has a small incubation period and symptoms deliver over 1 to 8 weeks. Early ones include

Fever

Fatigue

Muscle aches

These occur in large muscle groups like thighs, hips, back, and shoulders

Others include headaches, dizziness, chills, abdominal pain, nausea vomiting, diarrhea.

Later symptoms include lungs filling with fluid, which feel like a pillow on one’s face.
Diagnosis & Treatment

Diagnosis is difficult because symptoms can be confused with influenza, much like the coronavirus symptoms. Individuals with fever and fatigue and who are exposed to rats should be tested. In India, groups such as rules, who hunt rats and snakes, have been found to be vulnerable.

hantavirus Treatment

No specific treatment was other than medical care and ICU, where oxygen therapy can help with respiratory distress. The earlier the patient reaches ICU, the better it is.

hantavirus Prevention

Minimize contact with rats at home or work. Clean up properly and use pest control.

The laughing virus killed in China by social media


A case of death due to hantavirus has now been reported in China. In connection with the work, a youth going to Shandong province was found dead on the bus. Let's know what is a virus and why is it dangerous?

Coronavirus Highlight

One person died in Yunnan province of China battling coronavirus
The victim was suffering from hantavirus and was returning to work in Shandong Province
There has been an uproar on social media after Global Times informed about this incident.
People are expressing this fear by tweeting that it might become an epidemic like corona

Coronavirus Beijing

On Monday, one person died of hantavirus of coronavirus in Yunnan province, China. The victim was returning to Shandong Province by bus to work. He was found positive with hantavirus. 32 other people boarding the bus have also been investigated. There has been an uproar on social media after the Chinese government newspaper Global Times gave information about the incident.

A large number of people are tweeting and fearing that it may become an epidemic like coronavirus. People are saying that if the people of China do not stop eating animals alive then this will continue to happen. Shivam writes, 'Chinese people are now working on another epidemic project. This virus is caused by eating mice. Amidst the ongoing debate on social media, let's know what the virus is and is it as deadly as the corona?

Know what is a virus

Experts believe that the hantavirus is not as deadly as coronavirus. It is spread by human contact with a rat or squirrel. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 'mice indoors and outdoors are at risk of Huta virus infection. Even if someone is a healthy person and they come in contact with the virus, there is a risk of getting infected.

However, hantavirus does not pass from person to person. If a person touches mice's eyes, nose, and mouth after touching their feces, urine, etc. there is an increased risk of getting infected with hantavirus. A person gets a fever, headache, body pain, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. when infected with this virus. If the treatment is delayed, the lungs of the infected person are also filled with water, he has trouble breathing.

The laughing virus is deadly?

According to the CDC, the Lanta virus is fatal. The percentage of deaths of infected people is 38 percent. This case of hantavirus has come to China at a time when the whole world is struggling with an epidemic of coronavirus originating from Wuhan. So far 16 thousand 500 people have died due to coronavirus. Not only this, but 382,824 people of the world have also been infected with the coronavirus. The prevalence of coronavirus can be gauged from the fact that the virus has now spread to 196 countries.