By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently confirmed that three passengers on board a small cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean died following a suspected hantavirus outbreak.
The incident occurred on the polar cruise ship MV Hondius, which was travelling between Argentina and Cape Verde.
Two of the victims were a Dutch couple, while the third was a German national. The first death on the ship was a man who developed symptoms on April 6 and died five days later.
According to the WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, no samples were taken, and hantavirus was not identified because the symptoms were similar to those of other viruses.
The second victim was the man’s wife, who went ashore in Saint Helena, became symptomatic, and died on April 25.
The third fatality, a German national, developed symptoms on April 25 and died seven days later.
Meanwhile, hantavirus has been confirmed in the case of a 69-year-old UK national who is currently in intensive care in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The suspected hantavirus outbreak has, however, raised questions over whether the virus, which is normally spread by contact with rodents, is being transmitted between humans.
Therefore, in this article, Impact Nigeria Newspaper highlights five key things to know about the hantavirus outbreak.
What is hantavirus?
Hantaviruses are zoonotic viruses carried by rats and mice and usually spread to humans through contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Human-to-human transmission is not common and has only been reported with the Andes virus in South America.
The viruses are also found in Asia and Europe and can cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). In the West, including the United States, the virus causes the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).
Fatality rate
HPS is a severe and potentially fatal disease that affects the lungs, with up to a 40 percent fatality rate in the Americas, while HFRS is characterised by fever, bleeding tendencies, and kidney damage, with an estimated one to 15 percent fatality rate.
High activity of the virus is currently reported in Argentina, China, and America, while the spread of the case is currently being monitored in South Africa, Switzerland, Germany, Cape Verde, and Canada.
Symptoms
The symptoms of hantavirus vary depending on the specific syndrome, either HPS or HFRS, and have a long incubation period that ranges from one to eight weeks.
However, the symptoms generally progress in two stages. While the early phase often resembles the flu, which can lead to misdiagnosis, the later phase may result in severe respiratory or kidney complications.
For HPS, symptoms usually appear one to eight weeks after exposure to an infected rodent, with early symptoms that include fatigue, fever, muscle aches, especially in the thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders, headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal issues such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain.
Late symptoms of HPS that may develop within four to 10 days after the initial phase include coughing, chest tightness as the lungs fill with fluid, shortness of breath, low blood pressure, and irregular heart rate.
On the other hand, symptoms of the HFRS usually develop within one to two weeks after exposure, though in rare cases they may take up to eight weeks. Initial symptoms, which begin suddenly, include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever/chills, nausea, blurred vision, and flushing of the face, inflammation or redness of the eyes, or a rash.
Other symptoms that could follow later include low blood pressure, lack of blood flow (acute shock), internal bleeding (vascular leakage), and acute kidney failure, which can cause severe fluid overload.
ALSO READ: Hantavirus not beginning of another global pandemic, says WHO
Treatment
Although there is no specific treatment for hantavirus, early presentation to the hospital helps with prognosis.
With the recent hantavirus outbreak, treatment often focuses on supportive care after a patient has been diagnosed, including rest, hydration, and management of symptoms.
For instance, the HPS can cause severe breathing difficulties, necessitating respiratory support for patients, such as intubation. Intubation involves inserting a tube through the mouth into the lungs to help deliver oxygen.
Other forms of care may include oxygen therapy, fluid management, blood pressure support, and mechanical ventilation.
On the other hand, the HFRS affects kidney function, and patients may require dialysis to remove toxins from the blood and maintain proper fluid balance when the kidneys are not functioning effectively.
Prevention
The preventive measure for hantaviruses mainly involves keeping rodents away from living and working spaces, including homes, cabins, vehicles, and storage areas.
It is important to wear protective gloves when cleaning areas that may contain rodent droppings, urine, saliva, or nesting materials to avoid direct contact.
Also, individuals are advised to seal any holes or openings in the home or garage to prevent rodents from gaining access, or to set traps around the house to help reduce their presence.
Another preventive measure is to ensure that food and waste are properly stored to avoid contact with rodents and disposed of to avoid attracting rodents.
In addition, individuals are advised to adopt good hygiene practices, such as regular washing of hands with soap, properly disinfecting areas contaminated by urine, droppings, or nesting materials.
