Hantavirus, what it is and what the symptoms are. Bassetti: “It started like a flu”

What is hantavirus

Hantavirus diseases are viral infections of varying severity, transmitted to humans by wild and domestic rodents. The hantavirus genus includes several dozen viral species globally. Some species are present in Europe, where they are expanding into new areas and increasing in established endemic ones. In Europe, hantavirus diseases are spreading both in terms of number of cases and infected areas.

How it is transmitted

“The hantavirus – explains Bassetti – is mainly contracted by inhaling the virus dispersed in the air from urine, feces or saliva of infected rodents. Infection often occurs by cleaning cellars, barns or dusty woodsheds, or by touching contaminated surfaces and then the mouth/nose. Rodent bites or the consumption of contaminated food are rarer routes of transmission”.

I symptoms

“Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome begins as a flu-like syndrome and, on some days, causes noncardiogenic pulmonary edema,” the infectious disease specialist explained.

The cases on the cruise ship

“The first person to show symptoms – recalls Bassetti – was a 70-year-old passenger. He died on board the ship and his body is currently on the island of St Helena. His 69-year-old wife also fell ill on board and was evacuated to South Africa, where she died in a hospital in Johannesburg. The WHO is also working on the matter”.