Hantavirus, a virus that has once again revealed the need for One Health

Hantaviruses are viruses of the family Bunyaviridae. They live in animals, especially rodents, and can infect people; that is, they are zoonotic. They were identified after the Korean War, when there were outbreaks and their name comes from the Hantan River.

In animals, they produce asymptomatic and persistent infection. It is transmitted to humans by drops and aerosols released from rodent excrement and urine, as well as by scratches and bites. Symptoms appear between 1 and 8 weeks after infection.

“They are divided into two groups: the Old World (Asia and Europe) and the New World (America)"

The hantaviruses are divided into two groups: The Old World (Asia and Europe) and the New World (America). The former cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, with 1-15% of patients dying. The latter cause pulmonary syndrome and are more lethal, with more than half of them dying.

The first symptoms can be confused with many other ailments. Therefore, the diagnosis is based on the detection of antibodies in the blood or PCR. On the other hand, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for the disease, so the treatment is based on the treatment of symptoms.

“The Andes strain of the New World group can be spread through contact between people.”

In reality, hantavirus transmission from person to person is rare, but there is a variant, the Andes strain of the New World group, which can be spread by contact between people.

Recently, there was an outbreak on a cruise ship departing from Ushuaia, Argentina, with three deaths and several infections. Finally, the cruise will dock in the Canary Islands, giving each passenger the attention they need.

To avoid outbreaks, prevention is the way to go: avoid rodent proximity, cleanliness, hand hygiene. Above all, the World Health Organization has recalled that the Single Health is the key to jointly taking care of the health of the environment, animals and humans.