Hantavirus

Info Nation \ Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a rare but serious virus mainly spread through contact with infected rodents, especially their urine, droppings or saliva. People can become infected after breathing contaminated air particles in enclosed or poorly cleaned areas such as barns, cabins, warehouses or rural buildings where rodents are present. In North and South America, hantavirus can cause a dangerous illness known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS), which affects the lungs and can quickly become life-threatening if not treated early. Common symptoms include fever, headaches, muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, coughing and shortness of breath, while severe cases may lead to fluid buildup in the lungs and respiratory failure. Most hantaviruses do not spread between humans, but the rare Andes strain found in parts of South America has shown limited person-to-person transmission through close contact. Health experts say hantavirus is not as contagious as viruses like COVID-19 or influenza, and overall public risk remains low. There is currently no specific cure or vaccine for hantavirus, so early medical care and prevention are considered extremely important. Doctors recommend avoiding contact with rodents, safely cleaning rodent-infested areas with disinfectants instead of dry sweeping, sealing homes to prevent rodent entry, and using protective equipment when cleaning contaminated spaces. Although cases remain rare worldwide, hantavirus continues to be monitored closely because severe infections can have high fatality rates and outbreaks occasionally appear in rural or isolated regions.