An outbreak of the 'hantavirus' has
originated in China, taking one man's life, amid the global coronavirus
pandemic. It has unquestionably contributed to the people's fear and
uncertainty. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, however, said the
disease has a very rare human-to-human outbreak. Medical professionals are not
afraid of yet another hantavirus-like coronavirus pandemic.
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What is the hantavirus?
“The hantavirus is found in the faeces,
saliva or urine of gnawing mammals like rats, mice, squirrels, hamsters, porcupines.
It is transmitted to humans only through aerosols released by these into the
air. It is only when we inhale these aerosols that we stand a chance of
catching the virus.
The preliminary symptoms of the
hantavirus infection are fever, muscle aches and dizziness.
The virus shows in one of two ways. The
first is haemorrhagic fever with renal failure and the other is haemorrhagic
fever with lung and cardiac involvement. The second one is more deadly.
Does that pose a serious threat to India?
Infections such as hantavirus occur
generally in groups. The present cluster is mostly China. The rodents are not
very likely to be able to fly to India. "In this epidemic the spread of
human to human is nearly equal to zero. Nothing else to worry about as of now.
The hantavirus is clustered all around
Europe, the United States and Canada. Indians, however, undoubtedly need to
take the same steps they have during the current pandemic. Because of the
shorter incubation time the hantavirus is less likely to spread as quickly as
the coronavirus.
The hantavirus incubation period is 3-5
days as compared with the coronavirus '2 weeks incubation.
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What precautions should we take?
We are already going through a difficult
time because of the coronavirus epidemic which infected nearly 400,000 people
across the world. Such measures would need to be taken to stop the hantavirus
from presenting potential danger.
It is very essential to maintain the
same level of hygiene, and stay away from rats, dead or alive.
Farmers are more likely to transmit the
virus during harvest seasons, i.e. during the spring or fall period. They have
to be extra careful not to get in contact with rodents.
Is there a possibility of a coronavirus-like pandemic?
It is hard to say anything as of yet.
Various types of viruses include coronavirus and hantavirus. It is nevertheless
certain that China should not take lightly one situation.
Epidemics appear to arise during the
disease's infection periods. The patient is treated early on in serious
illnesses such as those caused by hantavirus. That controls the disease's
spread.
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