Hantavirus is a serious infectious disease transmitted by hantavirus, which is a virus belonging to the family Bunyaviridae and is found in the faeces, urine and saliva of some rodents, especially wild mice.
Most of the time, the infection occurs by inhaling viral particles into the air, causing symptoms approximately 2 weeks after contact with the virus. The main signs and symptoms of infection are fever, vomiting, headache and body pain, as well as damage to the lungs, heart or kidneys, which can be very serious.
- Thus.
- In case of suspected Hantavirus infection.
- It is important that the person goes to the hospital to make the diagnosis and start treatment.
- Which is done by means of accompanying measures.
- Since there is no specific treatment.
- Therefore.
- It is also recommended to adopt strategies to prevent disease.
- Avoiding storing debris that can house rats in the house.
- Avoiding dusting environments that were closed and that can house rodents and always storing food so that they cannot be contaminated by rats.
The first symptoms of a hantavirus infection may appear 5 to 60 days (on average 2 weeks) after infection, with fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain. This initial condition is non-specific and difficult to differentiate from other infections such as influenza, dengue or leptospirosis.
After the first symptoms appear, it is common for the function of certain organs to be compromised, meaning that the virus spreads and the disease is already at a more advanced stage. Therefore, there may be:
Recovery is most likely when the person receives appropriate treatment in the hospital, which can last 15 to 60 days, and sequelae such as chronic kidney failure or high blood pressure may persist.
Hantavirus diagnosis is performed by laboratory tests to identify antibodies to the virus or genome of the virus, confirming the infection. In addition, it is important to inform your doctor of lifestyle habits, whether there has been contact with rodents or not or if you have been in a potentially contaminated environment.
The main form of hantavirus transmission is through inhalation of viral particles that are eliminated in the environment by the urine and faeces of infected rodents and can be suspended into the air with dust. In addition, it is also possible to have contamination by contact with skin or mucous membranes, consumption of contaminated food or water, handling rodents in the laboratory or by rat bite, but this is rarer.
For example, people most at risk of infection are those who work in cleaning sheds and barns that can house rodents and in areas of reforestation, people who frequent food stores, or people who camp or walk in the wild.
In Brazil, the areas most affected by hantavirus are the south, southeast and midwest, especially in agriculture-related areas, although contamination can occur anywhere.
Treatment of hantavirus is to control symptoms of the disease and there is no specific drug to control the virus. Treatment is usually done in the hospital and, in the most severe cases, even in intensive care units (ICU).
During treatment, it is necessary to support respiratory capacity, due to the development of cardiopulmonary syndrome, in addition to the control of renal function and other vital data, in some cases it may be necessary to perform haemodialysis or breathing through devices.
To prevent hantavirus infection, it is recommended to
In addition, it is always advisable to wash your hands and food thoroughly before eating, as they may contain viral particles. Here’s how to wash your hands while watching the video below: