Another virus in China leaves Netizens scared, Here’s all you need to know about Hantavirus

Team Udayavani, Mar 24, 2020, 3:51 PM IST

A man in Hunan province of China has died after testing positive to Hantavirus. The man died while on his way back to Shandong Province for work on a chartered bus. It is said that 32 other passengers were also on the bus and are currently being monitored by the health officials in the country.

Following the news report, which was reported on Tuesday, Hantavirus immediately became a trend on social media. People began panicking that it was another COVID-19 ready to cause a new pandemic. However, unlike coronavirus, hantavirus is not airborne.

It is important to not panic in the situation. Hantavirus, unlike the COVID-19, is a previously known family of viruses. It is spread mainly by rodents and small animals but according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the cases of person-to-person transmission are extremely rare.

CDC said that “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,”

Early symptoms of the virus include fever, muscle ache, abdominal pain, dizziness, headache and abdominal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Late symptoms include lungs fill with fluid and shortness of breath.

Although Hantavirus can’t be passed on from person to person, it can be contracted if someone touches their eyes, nose or mouth after touching rodent droppings, urine, or nesting materials.

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

Various agencies have urged people to not panic about the hantavirus as much as the deadly coronavirus. Hygiene and clean surroundings will halt any hantavirus outbreak, unlike the coronavirus which is capable of community transmission.