What is Hantavirus? How is it transmitted? What are the precautions?

 

 

There is a big discussion on social media about a virus right now. Hantavirus. Hantavirus infection has been confirmed on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius. The 149-member cruise crew includes people from 23 countries, including India. Three deaths have been reported so far due to the virus. What is Hantavirus? How is it transmitted? What precautions should be taken? Let's check.

Hantavirus is present in the urine and feces of rats. These dry up and turn into dust particles and humans inhale them. The virus can also enter the body by touching surfaces contaminated with rat feces and then touching the nose or mouth with those hands. Hantavirus seriously affects the lungs or kidneys.

The disease is transmitted to others through close contact with an infected person. Once the virus enters the body, symptoms can begin to appear within one to eight weeks. Initial symptoms include high fever and chills, muscle pain in the hips, back, and shoulders, headache, weakness and fatigue, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

As the disease progresses, fluid builds up in the lungs, leading to severe shortness of breath, coughing, low blood pressure, and kidney failure. The Andean strain of hantavirus has been confirmed on the ship. It primarily affects the lungs. There is currently no vaccine for hantavirus.