Health
Another Pandemic ‘Hantavirus’ Hits China, Causes Panic Among People
After a man from China’s Yunnan province tested positive for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) on Monday and died while on his way back to Shandong Province for work, the virus became a trend on social media, with people panicking that it was another Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease ready to cause a new pandemic.
Ekohotblog gathered that although unlike coronavirus, hantavirus is not airborne.
Humans who contract the hantavirus usually come into contact with rodents that carry the virus.
“Rodent infestation in and around the home remains the primary risk for hantavirus exposure.
“Even healthy individuals are at risk for HPS infection if exposed to the virus,” Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website.
Symptoms of hantavirus
Early symptoms of HPS include fatigue, fever, and muscle aches, along with headaches, dizziness, chills and abdominal problems. If left untreated, it can lead to coughing and shortness of breath and can be fatal, with a mortality rate of 38 percent, according to CDC.
While the initial symptoms of HFRS too remain the same, it can cause low blood pressure, acute shock, vascular leakage, and acute kidney failure.
HPS can’t be passed on from person to person, while HFRS transmission between people is extremely rare.
As per the CDC, rodent population control is the primary strategy for preventing hantavirus infections.
Ekohotblog captured some reactions on social media about the hantavirus:
Can we just install a strong Antivirus across the world. We aren't done with Corona Virus yet, China produced another virus called #Hantavirus
God save the world. pic.twitter.com/VYkWPLGoEU— Youngichu™❁ (@youngichu) March 24, 2020
https://twitter.com/jewelodega1/status/1242359185209204736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1242359185209204736&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fallnews.ng%2Fnews%2Fhantavirus-causes-panic-among-people
#Hantavirus is a disease from rodents like rats, other biological animals capable of transmitting it to persons. It is gotten only via touching things contaminated with rodent urine, droppings or saliva, and then touch their nose or mouth. So it is not a person to person. pic.twitter.com/PeWMJLOwWq
— Tahir Sherasiya (@SherasiyaTahir) March 24, 2020
When you were comfortable at home hiding from corona virus and open twitter just to see that the rodents in your house can infect you with #Hantavirus
My family : pic.twitter.com/qkm6GgHLHx
— THE ANCIENT ONE🇺🇬 (@Alfajel13) March 24, 2020
I JUST got used to the idea of corona virus and the quarantine thing BUT I WOKE UP TO A NEW VIRUS WHAT THE FUXK #Hantavirus pic.twitter.com/09igEDnfVn
— 🎾 cillian murphy oscar campaign manager (@thekittenb) March 24, 2020
#Hantavirus
Microbiologist looking for the cure for CoronaVirus
HantaVirus comes out
Microbiologist:👇 pic.twitter.com/4bPUnR8PW9— AnonymousPain⚓💛⛵️ (@Feel_MyPainn) March 24, 2020
Someone can wake up to good news in this world again🤦♀🤦♀
China una no go kill person. Which one is #Hantavirus
Can we uninstall 2020!!!!!!#Hantavirus pic.twitter.com/vFjCTtKXSP— Snowbell (@alert_herbert) March 24, 2020
I don't know who needs to hear this but 26 March 2020 has got nothing to do with Isaiah 26:20.
🙄#Hantavirus pic.twitter.com/IbEropl2ru— Ron Malubana (@Ronmilles) March 24, 2020
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