Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that can cause severe respiratory infections and other illnesses in humans. These viruses are primarily transmitted through contact with rodents, particularly deer mice and are found all over the world. While most hantavirus infections are rare, they can be deadly if left untreated.
What is Hantavirus?
Right then! The world is still suffering from a mad outburst of coronavirus and right in the middle of it all, there is widespread chaos being created now over a new virus that is being spoken about a lot, over social media. Going by the name hantavirus, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has confirmed this virus is spread mainly from rodents. An infection with any of the hantavirus can lead to the hantavirus diseases in human beings too, and after a few cases were reported around the world, the panic has suddenly skyrocketed. Just as we’re looking for a cure to COVID-19, recent reports suggested a man from Yunnan province in China died from hantavirus while on a bus last week. So, we thought it our duty to come out and speak about hantavirus, and ensure there isn’t unnecessary chaos, while also making sure the necessary precautions are being taken against it. So, we’ll guide you through more facts about the virus today, and give you facts about hantavirus you probably didn’t know yet.
5 Best Things to Know about Hantavirus
- There are Different Types
- Spread Only through Rodents
- It’s Not in All Rodents
- It’s Not a Pandemic
- It Doesn’t Stay Active for Long
1. There are Different Types
Yeah, it’s true that there are different hantaviruses. As per the CDC, those found in the Americas are called ‘New World’ hantaviruses and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) while those in Europe, Asia and other parts are called ‘Old World’ hantaviruses which can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in human beings.
2. Spread Only through Rodents
The viruses are categorized by location because it’s spread through different species of rodents and the deadliest of them that can cause HPS in the United States of America is caused by Sin Nombre virus, carried by the deer mouse. Coming in contact with an infected rodent’s urine, feces, and/or saliva can cause infections in human beings too.
3. It’s Not in All Rodents
Again, this can only be carried by a certain species of rodents especially the cotton rats, rice rats and the white-footed mouse and the red-backed vole, most of which are found in the United States. A vast majority of these species of rodents aren’t found across the world.
4. It’s Not a Pandemic
While there was a case of two reported, it’s important not to panic, because hantavirus is not a widespread pandemic. Also, if proper precautions are taken, this is not a disease you can see yourself getting. Also, it’s not something that usually spreads from human to human, like with coronavirus.
5. It Doesn’t Stay Active for Long
We’re unsure of how long the coronavirus can stay active but with hantavirus, studies say that the virus doesn’t remain active for too long, once outside of its host. As per what we’ve heard, it can remain active for less than a week when outdoors and nothing more than a few hours when exposed to direct sunlight. Even if we do come in contact with urine, saliva or feces of rats, coming home and washing up is of prime importance. Personal hygiene is very importance in times as such, where plagues seem to be disturbing world peace. The Hantavirus was first identified in Canada in 1994 and there are reasons to believe that there were a few cases before that as well. Unlike posts being circulated on social media, it’s not a new virus and it’s surely not originated in China. The country is being made the target of all social media jokes and it’s better we know our facts about hantavirus before going on to forward untrue facts and messages to people in our contacts.
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