Khaberni - "Hantavirus" heads new headlines in the health file, after confirming three deaths and five suspected cases resulting from this disease aboard the luxury cruise ship "MV Hondius" which departed from Argentina towards Cape Verde, according to the World Health Organization.
What is Hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a rare disease and a potentially fatal respiratory infection caused by rodents through their droppings, saliva, or urine.
The virus is transmitted to humans through the inhalation of contaminated air by airborne particles from dry rodent droppings, and this usually occurs when someone tries to clean rodent droppings by sweeping.
A person can also be infected with the Hantavirus by touching contaminated objects and then touching the mouth or nose, and transmission can also occur through exposure to bites or scratches from rodents, although it is rare.
This virus belongs to the family of zoonotic diseases, those transmitted from animals to humans.
According to epidemiologist "Charlotte Hamer," an assistant professor specializing in infectious diseases at Cambridge University, Hantaviruses have two main strains: the “Old World” strain prevalent in Europe and Asia, and the “New World” strain found in the Americas. Hamer suspects that the cases linked to the ship are due to the "Andes virus," one of the Hantaviruses in South America, particularly in Argentina.
The danger of the "New World" viruses lies in the fact that their initial symptoms are nonspecific and resemble influenza symptoms, before developing into a severe pulmonary syndrome that can be extremely dangerous.
Does the virus transmit between humans?
Medical studies indicate that "Hantaviruses" do not usually transmit between humans, except in very rare cases. This only occurs with a specific type, the "Andes virus," under close and intense contact conditions, such as intimate relationships or between patients and medical staff.
Health experts add that the long incubation period makes it difficult to precisely determine the time and place of infection.
What are the symptoms of Hantavirus?
Hantaviruses "Old World" strains found in Europe and Asia can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.
The symptoms of "Hantavirus" usually appear between one week and six weeks after exposure to the virus, and the incubation period can extend to two months. Symptoms include:
General malaise, fever, muscle or abdominal pain, dry cough, headache, nausea and vomiting, and in advanced cases, the affected person suffers from difficulty breathing.
For the Hantavirus "New World" strain, found in the Americas, it causes "Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome" affecting the lungs, initially causing influenza-like symptoms, but over time, some patients may experience shortness of breath and chest tightness, due to fluid accumulation in the lungs.
What are the prevention measures?
According to health experts, hygiene and safety measures should be followed, especially in areas where rodents are prevalent, which include:
- Avoid touching live or dead rodents or their burrows.
- Properly store and carefully clean food.
- Avoid camping near rodent habitats.
- Maintain cleanliness in homes.
It is also advisable to wear gloves and dispose of used tools when cleaning places containing decomposed organic materials, and avoid using vacuum cleaners which may stir up dust and spread contaminated particles in the air.
