Untitled Document

Hantaviruses are a type of virus found in rodents in different parts of the world. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was first identified in the southwestern United States in 1993

Symptoms

Early symptoms include fatigue, fever and muscle aches, especially the large muscle groups—thighs, hips, back, sometimes shoulders. These symptoms are universal. There may also be headaches, dizziness, chills and/or abdominal problems, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. About half of all HPS patients experience these symptoms. Four to 10 days after the initial phase of illness, the late symptoms of HPS appear. These include coughing and shortness of breath, with the sensation of, as one survivor put it, a "..tight band around my chest and a pillow over my face" as the lungs fill with fluid. Earache, sore throat and rash are very uncommon. It appears that symptoms may develop between 1 and 5 weeks after exposure to potentially infected rodents and their droppings.

Complications: Although almost 50% of the cases have been fatal, the remainder have recovered.

Transmission

The virus is carried by rodents, such as deer mice, and cotton rats which are found throughout North America. Infected rodents shed the live virus in saliva, droppings, and urine. Humans are infected when they inhale microscopic particles that contain rodent urine or droppings. Insect bites and pets are not believed to play a role in Hantavirus transmission.

Diagnosis

Infection with E. coli 015:H7 can only be diagnosed by a special stool culture that is not performed in many laboratories. Public health authorities have advised doctors and laboratories to consider performing a special stool culture test if they suspect E. coli 0157:H7, particularly in people with bloody diarrhea.

Treatment

At the present time, there is no specific treatment or "cure" for hantavirus infection. Physicians have been administering ribavarin, an antiviral drug, on an experimental basis. However, we do know that if the infected individuals are recognized early and are taken to an intensive care unit, some patients may do better. In intensive care, patients are intubated and given oxygen therapy to help them through the period of severe respiratory distress. The earlier the patient is brought in to intensive care, the better. If a patient is experiencing full distress, it is less likely the treatment will be effective. Therefore, if you have been around rodents and have symptoms of fever, deep muscle aches and severe shortness of breath, see your doctor immediately. Be sure to tell your doctor that you have been around rodents—this will alert your physician to look closely for any rodent-carried disease such as HPS.

Prevention

Avoid contact with rodents. Since rodents are the primary means of transmitting these viruses, eliminating contact with them, and their droppings and urine is the best way to avoid infection. When cleaning up rodent droppings, wet them down first with a 10% bleach solution and wear gloves.