#real #risk #hantavirus
Hantavirus is a group of RNA viruses from the Hantaviridae family, transmitted mainly by certain rodents, for example: mice, rats. They are destroyed by heat, sunlight and disinfectants. That’s why it prefers cold and wet environments. The virus was identified for the first time during the Korean War, near the Hantan River, where the name “hantavirus” comes from.
Humans can become infected accidentally by inhaling contaminated particles from rodent urine, faeces or saliva. The infection in humans can cause serious diseases, sometimes with severe evolution on the lungs or kidneys.
There are two types of viruses depending on the diseases produced:
1. Hantaviruses from Europe and Asia
Which is characterized by the following symptoms:
• hemorrhagic fever;
• kidney damage of variable severity;
• vascular and hemorrhagic disorders.
2. Hantaviruses in America
They are characterized in particular by:
• pulmonary syndrome;
• respiratory failure;
How is it transmitted?
Transmission to humans occurs most frequently through:
• inhalation of contaminated aerosols;
• contact with contaminated surfaces;
• very rarely through rodent bites;
• handling of rodent droppings.
Risk situations include:
• cleaning bridges, cellars, where we meet rodents;
• work in agriculture / forestry;
• camping in infested regions.
Human-to-human transmission is extremely rare and has only been documented for certain types of hantavirus in South America.
Hantaviruses are considered important because:
• can produce severe forms of the disease;
• diagnosis is difficult in the initial phases;
• there is no specific antiviral treatment.
Although infections are relatively rare, they can have high mortality in severe pulmonary forms.
The symptoms
The symptoms of hantavirus infection differ depending on the type of virus and the form of the disease, but the onset is often similar to a flu or other respiratory viral infections.
Common symptoms:
• fever;
• chills;
• asthenia;
• myalgias (especially back and thighs);
• headache;
• nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain.
In the pulmonary forms may appear:
• cough;
• dyspnea;
• feeling of pressure in the chest;
Kidney symptoms include:
• low diuresis;
• hypotension;
• sometimes hematuria.
Kidney symptoms include:
• low diuresis;
• hypotension;
• sometimes hematuria.
In the initial phase, it can resemble covid-19 or the flu, because we have signs of general viral damage:
• fever;
• fatigue;
• muscle pain;
• cough;
• dyspnea.
However, there are important differences:
• hantavirus is associated with exposure to rodents;
• kidney damage is more characteristic of certain hantaviruses;
• the disease is much rarer than COVID-19.
Who is at greater risk of exposure?
The risk is increased for people who come into contact with environments with rodents or their excrement.
Categories with increased risk:
• farmers;
• forestry workers;
• people who work in warehouses, barns or sheds;
• construction/renovation workers;
• hunters;
• veterinarians and pest control workers.
The risk can increase for people who live in rural areas, after periods of increased rodent proliferation and in old, poorly ventilated buildings.
Prevention consists of:
Avoiding contact with rodents and their excrement, spending time outdoors in sunlight. Increasing immunity and decreasing stress levels.
Important measures:
• ventilation of closed spaces;
• avoiding dry mopping or vacuuming excrement, because they can raise infectious particles in the air;
• wetting the surfaces with disinfectant before cleaning;
• storing food in closed containers;
• eliminating food sources for rodents;
• plugging holes and accesses through which rodents can enter.
What is the real risk?
Hantavirus is a rare infection, for most people, the risk of transmission remains low in everyday life. It grows in situations with intense exposure to rodents or contaminated and poorly ventilated spaces.
The most important things to remember are:
• the disease is not easily transmitted between people;
• contact with rodent droppings is the main way of infection;
• prevention is effective and relatively simple;
• the initial symptoms may resemble other viral infections, which is why the exposure context is very important.
In practice, hygiene measures, space ventilation and rodent control considerably reduce the risk of illness. Also supporting immunity through supplements such as: Immunvirex from Calivita would help protect the body from viral infections. In the times we live in when most people work a lot in the office, do not expose themselves to sunlight, have a stressful job, low immunity, it is recommended to take supplements for the prevention and prophylaxis against repeated viral infections.
Immunvirex is a complex preparation based on quercitin, vitamin D, zinc, probiotics and plant extracts, each capsule being a strong shield against pathogens.
This preparation has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces flu symptoms such as headache and myalgia.
Probiotics have the ability to support, strengthen and protect the immune system, with a strong antiviral effect.
Through the anti-inflammatory effect, it calms pain, reduces the frequency and severity of infections, the complex of ingredients shortens the convalescence period, helps the body to recover faster from viral diseases.
This article was written by…
Dr. Aliona Chirosca
Sports doctor and nutritionist
She is a graduate of the “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, following a residency in sports medicine at the National Institute of Sports Medicine, Bucharest. He is a sports doctor since 2019 and a nutritionist since 2020, being a member of the College of Doctors from Romania, the College of Doctors from Ireland, the Romanian Society of Medical Rehabilitation and the Romanian Society of Sports Medicine. Over the years, he participated in international internships for constant improvement: Ghent (Belgium) – musculoskeletal ultrasound-, Vienna (Austria) – ESPEN, Clinical Nutrition. She is the author of numerous articles on nutrition, sports medicine and wellness.
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