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Treatment of hantavirus infection is mostly supportive. Spanish What is hantavirus?Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that are carried by rodents. One of them, Sin Nombre virus, is found in deer mice in North America. Sin Nombre virus is the cause of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in people. Hantavirus in Washington StateHantavirus-infected deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) can excrete the virus in their urine, saliva, and droppings. Infected deer mice live throughout the state and people are at risk for HPS in any part of Washington. Deer mice pass the virus to each other and some of the population is usually infected, but deer mice do not get sick or have any symptoms. A person may be exposed to hantavirus by breathing contaminated dust after disturbing or cleaning rodent droppings or nests, or by living or working in rodent-infested settings. Typically one to five cases are reported each year and about one out of three people diagnosed with HPS have died. Hantavirus Cases and Deaths in Washington StateHow do I prevent Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome?Keep rodents out of your home and workplace. Always take precautions when cleaning, sealing and trapping rodent-infested areas. Seal up cracks and gaps in buildings that are larger than 1/4 inch including window and door sills, under sinks around the pipes, in foundations, attics and any potential rodent entry point.
Clean up rodent infested areas:
What precautions should I use working, hiking, or camping outdoors?
How are people commonly exposed?Any activity that puts you in contact with deer mouse droppings, urine, saliva, or nesting materials can place you at risk for infection. There is no evidence that the disease spreads from one person to another. Can dogs and cats get hantavirus?There's evidence that animals, notably dogs and cats can be infected by hantavirus, however they do not get sick or have any symptoms. Dogs and cats are most likely exposed to the virus when preying on infected deer mice. Though dogs and cats can't spread hantavirus directly to other animals or people, they could put people at risk by bringing infected rodents into homes or places where exposure to rodent excretions may occur. What are the symptoms of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome?Symptoms begin one to eight weeks after inhaling the virus and typically start with 3-5 days of illness including fever, sore muscles, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. As the disease gets worse, it causes shortness of breath due to fluid filled lungs. Hospital care is usually required. It is serious disease and about one out of three people diagnosed with HPS have died. What should I do if I think I have been exposed to hantavirus?If you have been exposed to deer mice mice or mice-infested buildings and have symptoms of fever, muscle aches, and severe shortness of breath, see your health care provider immediately. Inform your health care provider of possible deer mouse exposure so that he/she is alerted to the possibility of rodent-borne diseases, such as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. What does the deer mouse look like?The deer mouse is about six inches long from the nose to the tip of its tail. It is grayish to light brown on top, with large ears, a white belly, and a furry tail that is white on the underside. There are many other types of mice in Washington that don't have those features. How long does hantavirus remain infectious in the environment?The length of time hantaviruses can remain infectious in the environment is variable and depends on environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, whether the virus is indoors or outdoors or exposed to the sun, and even on the mouse's diet (which would affect the chemistry of its urine). The bottom line is that you can't tell how old a dropping is, so all rodent droppings should be handled as if they are infectious. Areas with ongoing rodent infestation are particularly risky and the recommendations for prevention should be followed. More Information
Hantavirus and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) factsFigure 1: Picture of Sin Nombre hantavirus particles; SOURCE: CDC/D. Loren Ketai, MD
The flu (influenza) is a viral disease of the respiratory tract. Characteristic symptoms are
Other symptoms can occur, like
Read about other flu symptoms » What is hantavirus and pulmonary syndrome (HPS)?Figure 2: Chest X-ray of a patient with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS); SOURCE: CDC/Brian W.J. Mahy, PhD; Luanne H. Elliott, MSThe term hantavirus represents several groups of RNA-containing viruses (that are members of the virus family of Bunyaviridae) that are carried by rodents and can cause severe respiratory infections termed hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). HPS is found mainly in the Americas (Canada, U.S., Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Panama, and others) while hemrrhatic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is found mainly in Russia, China, and Korea but may be found in Scandinavia and Western Europe and occasionally in other areas. Like HPS, HFRS results from hantaviruses that are transmitted by
The goal of this article is to discuss HPS; however, much of what is presented about HPS applies to HFRS -- the main difference is that the predominant symptoms in the late stages of disease vary somewhat between the two diseases (lung fluid and shortness of breath in HPS and low blood pressure, fever, and kidney failure in HFRS). HPS is a disease caused by hantavirus that results in human lungs filling with fluid (pulmonary edema) and causing death in about 38% of all infected patients. See pictures of Bacterial Skin Conditions See Images
What are the early symptoms and signs of HPS?The symptoms and signs of HPS fall into early and late stages. Early HPS signs and symptoms begin about one to five weeks after the person contacts hantavirus associated with rodent urine, feces, or saliva. The early symptoms are flu-like, last about four to 10 days, and include
Almost every infected person develops these symptoms. Other symptoms of HPS that may occur in about half of infected patients include Early symptoms of can cause diagnostic confusion. In 2018, Kiley Lane, a 27-year-old mother who lived in New Mexico, was diagnosed as having the flu but her symptoms got worse. She was diagnosed with having hantavirus about a month after her flu diagnosis and died about one month later of the disease. Late symptoms of HPS occur about four to 10 days after the early symptoms and include;
Some infected people may develop hemorrhagic fever and kidney failure that may require dialysis (HFRS or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome).
What are the causes and risk factors for HPS?
The cause of HPS is infection of the patient by hantavirus. Currently, about 14 subtypes of hantaviruses have been identified. Many subtypes have been named
Some researchers and doctytors simply them under the term of "New World hantaviruses." The Sin Nombre subtype has caused the majority of current HPS disease. Hantavirus apparently damages cells that compose blood vessel capillaries, causing them to leak fluids. This fluid leak, if it is profound in the lungs, causes the life-threatening pulmonary syndrome. Hantaviruses live their lifecycle in rodents but apparently do no harm; the viruses multiply and shed in the rodent's urine, feces, and saliva. A recent study in California suggested about 15% of all deer mice examined tested positive for hantavirus. Although the deer mouse has been the source of most HPSinfections, many other rodents may carry a different hantavirus subtype virus (for example, the white-footed mouse, the cotton rat, and the rice rat). HPS risk factorsThe major risk factor for HPS is association with
Is hantavirus contagious, and how long is it before symptoms begin?Is hantavirus contagious?There is no evidence that HPS is not contagious from person to person contact in the US. The virus spreads from rodents to humans. Although outbreaks seem like there is person-to-person transfer, outbreaks are usually noted among groups of people exposed to the same infected rodent population while those with hantavirus infections do not transfer them to other uninfected individuals. How long is hantaviris contagious?
What is the incubation period for hantavirus?
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What exams and tests diagnose HPS?A test considered to diagnose HPS, is a positive serological test result, which is evidence of viral antigen in tissue by immunohistochemistry, or the presence of amplifiable viral RNA sequences in blood or tissue, with compatible history of HPS, is considered diagnostic for HPS. What is the treatment for HPS?
Consequently, most patients diagnosed with HPS are usually cared for in the intensive care unit by specialists trained in critical care, and usually, in consultation with an infectious-disease doctor. Because the lungs are the most compromised organ in these infections, a lung doctor (pulmonologist) also is usually consulted. Moreover, specialists from the CDC are often involved to help locate the outbreak source and to help healthcare personnel at the outbreak site prevent further infections.
What are the complications of HPS?The major complication of HPS is death from respiratory failure. Those who survive may take a few weeks to recover fully. Those patients who survive do not have chronic infections nor do they experience other chronic problems or complications. Can you die from HPS?The prognosis of HPS is fair to poor because currently, about 62% of patients recover, while about 38% will die. The prognosis may be better if the patient gets his/her diagnosis early and given support in an intensive care unit in a hospital. However, the early diagnosis of HPS is difficult; some patients did not know they had been exposed to rodents that carried hantavirus.
Can you prevent HPS?
There are no vaccines available to protect against any hantavirus types. The CDC recommends elimination or reduction of contact with any rodents (for example, at home, worksites, campsites, barns, sheds) by reducing rodent access or rodent-proofing. Sealing up gaps and holes, placing traps, and keeping areas as clean and food free as possible will help. If a person must come in contact with rodents or areas where they live, precautions such as gloves and masks may reduce the chances for infection; disinfectant treatment of possible contaminated surfaces may also help prevent the disease. Do not attempt to use a vacuum or use a broom to remove rodent urine or feces; this action may increase the risk of HPS by generating an aerosol. The risk of HPS can be reduced by inactivating hantaviruses in the environment by using a household detergent and 1½ cups of bleach per gallon of water to wipe or spray the potentially infected area and while minimizing contact by wearing gloves and a mask. Take similar precautions with rodents caught in traps.
When was hantavirus pulmonary syndrome first discovered?
Medically Reviewed on 1/15/2021 References Cennimo, DJ, MD, et al. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. Medscape. Updated: Jan 15, 2019.<https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/236425-overview> Hantavirus Disease, by State of Reporting. CDC. Updated: Sep 13, 2017. <https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/surveillance/reporting-state.html> br /> Martinez, V., et al. "Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in Argentina, 1995-2008." Emerging Infectious Diseases 16.12 Dec. 2010. <http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/16/12/09-1170_article> United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Hantavirus." Feb. 14, 2018. <https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/hps/index.html>.United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Virology: Hantaviruses." Aug. 29, 2012. <http://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/technical/hanta/virology.html>. |