Hantavirus back in Andhra after 10 yrs

“After the monsoon and due to seasonal change,we get patients with lots of diseases. But unlike other patients,he was not fitting into any category. Treatment was mostly symptomatic. But the patient’s condition was worsening every hour. He was perfectly fine one minute and the next his kidney was not functioning. We considered several options and zeroed in on Hantavirus,’’ said Dr M V Rao,Senior General Physician.

The patient had also slipped into a state of unresponsiveness,opening eyes to calls but there was no eye contact. EEGs showed cerebral dysfunction. By the time the test results arrived six days later,doctors started treatment suspecting it to be Hantavirus and the patient’s health started improving.

How it spreads

Hantavirus spreads to humans from rodents that have symptoms similar to influenza. It does not spread between humans.

The virus is found in the rodent’s urine and feces,but it does not make it sick.

It is believed that humans can get infected if they come in contact with dust contaminated with mice droppings; during dusting or cleaning.

Rodents carrying the virus have been found in many US national parks.

The symptoms are similar to that of flu including chills,fever and muscle aches,leading to rapid deterioration of health of the patient often due to kidney or heart failure.

India,East Asia strain of the virus affects kidneys while the US strain affects lungs.