What is Hantavirus?
The tough times around the world are getting even tougher by the day. Coronavirus is just peaking across the globe, and there are talks of another ugly virus doing the rounds on social media – HANTAVIRUS. Known to be spread through rodents, it’s not even close to how bad COVID-19 is, but it’s best to be on the safer side always, knowing each disease’s signs and symptoms.
Unlike coronavirus, hantavirus doesn’t spread from humans to humans. You can only get it from an infected rodent, more specifically when you come in contact with their urine, saliva or feces. But if you haven’t made direct contact, you’re not out of risk. The pathogens rise into the air when cleaning areas that have dried up urine or saliva. Masks and gloves and washing are thus vital in this disease too.
Hantavirus symptoms
Hantavirus comes from a family of viruses. If you’ve ingested the pathogens of this virus, you could get Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). The virus incubation period is still unknown, but reports suggest it could take 1-8 weeks before the symptoms start showing, much more than in COVID-19. Hantavirus signs and symptoms:
- Fever
- Headache, body ache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Dry cough
- Breathing difficulties
If you feel any of these symptoms even mildly, get yourself checked. While it comes on slowly initially, there could be rapid onset of these signs and symptoms later, so don’t ignore early symptoms. Be sure to be especially careful if you’ve had recent exposure to rats and rodents at home or anywhere else outdoors.
How is hantavirus diagnosed?
There’s no way of hantavirus testing as yet. With symptoms being same as a common flu, it’s difficult to know. However, when you have a fever, fatigue and recent rodent exposure, watch out! If you are experiencing all these three symptoms, it’s recommended to visit your doctor as soon as possible!
Save yourself from hantavirus
You can be infected without the infected rodent being there anymore, so use masks and gloves when cleaning areas which could be prone to rodents such as garages, basements, attics, storerooms, barns, warehouses, and similar places. Also, maintain high levels of hygiene at home, so as to not ever attract rodents here.
