Trending

Hantavirus: Why a coronavirus like pandemic is not possible. What is hantavirus?



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.

                                          GOOGLE AD


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.

                                          GOOGLE AD


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.

GOOGLE AD