New Delhi: US health officials have issued a health warning after four people have this year from hantavirus, an incurable disease spread by rodents.
The virus, which has a fatality rate of around 38 per cent , is typically rare, causing only about 30 cases annually in the US mostly in Westerns and southwestern areas. Recently, however, certain regions have seen an uptick in cases, according to report by The Sun.
Arizona public health officials have reported six cases and three deaths over the past six months. This is a significant rise compared to the 11 cases recorded from 2016 to 2022. The state’s health department issued a warning confirming the increase in cases and the fatalities. “Arizona has also been experiencing an increase in hantavirus activity.
The Arizona emergency information network in a statement said, “From January 1 to July 1, 2024, seven human cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) have been confirmed, resulting in three deaths in Arizona.” It also provided tips to maintain hygiene to keep the surrounding rodent-free and stop the spread of the disease.
Meanwhile, California reported two cases and one death this year, including an instance in a county that hasn’t detected the virus in humans for two decades.
Experts believe extreme heatwaves could be a contributing factor to this surge. Dr Camilo Mora, professor in the Department of Geography and Environment at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said, “Many carrying-disease species get on the move with climate change. While for any specific case, it is difficult to conclude the role of climate change, climate change has all the attributes to cause outbreaks of vector-borne diseases.”
According to US’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rats and mice can spread hantavirus to humans through urine, feaces or saliva and in rare cases through bite or scratch. Symptoms typically appear 1 to 8 weeks after after exposure and include fever, muscle aches, nausea, and abdominal pain.
The disease can then progress to shortness of breath within four to 10 days. It attacks the blood vessels in the lungs, causing them to leak and fill the lungs with fluid, potentially leading to suffocation and death.
Hantavirus in an individual is usually identified in a person after 72 hours of exposure as it is difficult to detect before that. In cases where the preliminary examination is conducted prior to the virus being detectable, subsequent testing is frequently performed 72 hours following the onset of symptoms. The initial signs of infection, including “fever, headache muscle aches, nausea, and fatigue,” closely resemble those of influensa, making early diagnosis problematic.
Doctors manage the virus by using ventilators to ensure patients receive sufficient oxygen. Intravenous drips are also administered to maintain hydration and nutrient levels, along with medications to help manage pain, fever, and other symptoms. Currently, there is no specific treatment, cure, or vaccine for hantavirus infection.
