The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that at least 12 countries are officially or indirectly involved in the response to a Hantavirus outbreak.
The WHO confirmed that some nations are directly affected due to passengers boarding flights or medical evacuations, while others were notified because their citizens were on board or passed through transit points.
The countries identified are Canada, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Here is everything you need to know about the Hantavirus:
What is Hantavirus and how does it spread?
According to the Times of India, Hantavirus is a type of virus found in various regions globally.
Humans become infected through contact with infected rodents or by inhaling dust contaminated with their droppings, urine, or saliva. In most cases, the virus does not transmit efficiently between humans, which is a primary reason health authorities do not currently view it as a major global threat.
Human-to-human transmission does not appear to play a significant role in the progression of the disease.
Symptoms
The symptoms caused by this virus are severe. Initially, they are characterized by flu-like symptoms, such as fever, muscle aches, and lethargy.
However in some cases the illness progresses rapidly to respiratory complications, fluid accumulation in the lungs, and shock.
Treatment
To date, no specific antiviral drugs have been developed to treat this viral infection. Treatment is largely limited to symptom management, which often requires hospitalization for supplemental oxygen and intensive care (ICU) support.
Edited translation by Al-Masry Al-Youm
