Hantavirus after the COVID-19 ?

     What next after corona? 

            The Hantavirus.

On March 22 a man from China's Yunnan province tested positive for the virus and died on his way back to Shandong province. Apart from him,  another 32 people also tested positive, as per a Global Times report. 

For a world scared out of its wits by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reports of a death in China due to a different kind of virus called "Hantavirus" couldn't have come at a worse time. 

   Soon Hantavirus started making it to the top twitter trends and a lot of misinformation begin circulating. 

 So what exactly is the Hantavirus and is it as deadly as coronavirus ?

No,  Hantaviruses are not new and have been around for a while. For one, it is transmitted to people when they breathe in infected rodents droppings, urine or saliva. 

                       

The US Center for Disease Control (CDC) states that the Hantavirus is a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents.

The virus is inhaled and reaches the lungs where it weakens the havoc. It begins to invade tiny blood vessels called capillaries, eventually causing them to leak. The lungs then flood with fluid, which can trigger any of the respiratory problems associated with Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Also, the disease is not native or restricted to China. There have been outbreak in both North and South America and Korea, as per the CDC.

The Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome advances through two distinct stages-the first is characterised by flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills, headaches and muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain. In this early stages, Hantavirus is difficult to distinguish from influenza, pneumonia or other viral conditions.

But after four to ten days, more serious signs and symptoms such as a cough that produces secretions, shortness of breath, fluid accumulation within the lungs, low blood pressure, and reduced heart efficiency.

The treatment for Hantavirus is limited but early prognosis and hospitalization improves chances.

The best method would be prevention, tackling of rodents problems or by wearing respirators. 

The symptoms of the Hantavirus are almost similar to that of the Coronavirus .