As novel coronavirus wreaks havoc on the world and itseconomy, China is apparently witnessing resurgence of another virus -– thistime from rodents that reside in the dark underbelly of our world.
Global Times tweeted on Tuesday that a person from”Yunnan Province died while on his way back to Shandong Province for workon a chartered bus on Monday. He was tested positive for #hantavirus. Other 32people on bus were tested”.
The tweet went viral on various social media platforms, withpeople saying does ‘coronavirus needs a backup now?”
“I think am ready to move to another planet.Honestly,” tweeted one user.
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe, sometimesfatal, respiratory disease in humans caused by infection with hantaviruses.
Early symptoms of HPS include fatigue, fever and muscleaches, especially in thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders.
An infected person may also experience headaches, dizziness,chills, and abdominal problems.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and cancause varied disease syndromes in people worldwide.
Infection with any hantavirus can produce hantavirus diseasein people.
Hantaviruses in the Americas are known as “NewWorld” hantaviruses and may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).Other hantaviruses, known as “Old World” hantaviruses, are foundmostly in Europe and Asia and may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome(HFRS).
Each hantavirus serotype has a specific rodent host speciesand is spread to people via aerosolized virus that is shed in urine, feces, andsaliva, and less frequently by a bite from an infected host.
Anyone who comes into contact with rodents that carryhantaviruses is at risk of HPS. Rodent infestation in and around the homeremains the primary risk for hantavirus exposure. Even healthy individuals areat risk for HPS infection if exposed to the virus.
In Chile and Argentina, rare cases of person-to-persontransmission have occurred among close contacts of a person who was ill with atype of hantavirus called Andes virus, according to the CDC.
However, not all were impressed by the news.
“Hanta virus has been around since the 1970s.Human-to-human spread is possible, but very rare. Let’s not add fuel to theflame,” tweeted one user on Global Times’ Twitter handle.