Hantavirus is a rare disease that is often deadly and is spread mostly through contact with sick rats or their droppings. Early recognition of symptoms is critical since the disease may advance rapidly, and there is currently no recognized therapy. Knowing what to look for can be life-saving.
What is Hantavirus Disease?
Hantaviruses are a genus of RNA viruses that are spread by rodents, such as deer mice, cotton rats, and rice rats in the Americas, and bank voles or field mice in Europe and Asia. In humans, the disease is contracted by inhalation of aerosolised rat urine, feces, or saliva, or less commonly through bites from rodents. Person-to-person transmission is quite rare, save for one strain in South America (Andes virus).
The two primary clinical syndromes are Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in North and South America and Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia. Both can be fatal if not addressed by a doctor immediately.
Symptoms of Hantavirus: Step by Step
Signs of illness generally appear 1 to 8 weeks after exposure, although it can take as long as 6 weeks or as short as a few days. There are separate stages of the condition.
Days 1-5: Prodromal/Early Phase
- High temperature (38-40°C / 100-104°F)
- Severe muscle pain (myalgia)
- Fatigue and headache
- Sweating and or chills
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
- Stomach ache
Days 5–10 (HPS) Cardiopulmonary Phase
- Shortness of breath (Dyspnoea)
- Cough (dry, non-productive)
- Fluid in lungs
- Rapid heartbeat
- Low BP (blood pressure)
- Risk of respiratory failure
HFRS variant: Renal stage
- Intense pain in the lower abdomen and back
- Decreased urine output
- Blurry vision or blurred vision
- Facial flushes and redness
- Petechiae (bleeding in the skin)
- Possibility of kidney failure
Medical Emergency
If you have sudden shortness of breath, a fast heart rate, or very low blood pressure – particularly if you may have been exposed to rodents – seek emergency medical help immediately. The mortality rate of HPS is 38%. Early therapy is highly crucial.
How Does Hantavirus Spread?
Most often, people are infected by inhaling dust containing the virus from dried mouse droppings or urine, especially in enclosed spaces such as cabins, barns, sheds, or attics. Other ways of infection are direct contact with infected rodents (bites or handling), contact with contaminated surfaces, and, finally, the face, and rarely contaminated food or drink.
Those most at risk include construction, agriculture, pest control, and forestry workers, and hikers and campers who sleep out in the open or in simple shelters.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis is confirmed using blood tests, including serology (to look for antibodies to hantavirus) and PCR testing for viral RNA. Physicians should inquire about probable exposure history, as early symptoms are comparable to influenza or COVID-19.
No antiviral treatment has been specifically licensed for hantavirus to yet. Management is supportive and directed at the control of symptoms in an intensive care setting. This includes: •
- Mechanical Ventilation and Oxygenation for Respiratory Failure
- Blood pressure fluid maintenance
- Severe renal failure (HFRS) dialysis
- ECMO for extremely unwell HPS patients
Those who survive the first phase typically recover completely, though it may take weeks to months.
Prevention: Reducing Your Risk
There is no vaccine (save in China, where there is one for HFRS), thus prevention is aimed at decreasing exposure to rodents:
- Seal gaps and cracks in walls, roofs, and foundations to prevent rats from entering
- Store food (including pet food) in sealed, rodent-proof containers
- When cleaning areas with rodent activity, wear gloves and an N95 respirator.
- Spray droppings with disinfectant before sweeping (do not dry sweep droppings)
- After a long closure, ventilate cabins or outbuildings for at least 30 minutes before entering
- Set traps, and seek pest control experts if danger is great
Frequently Asked Questions
How do people get hantavirus from each other?
In most of the world, hantavirus isn’t commonly spread from person to person. The one big exception is the Andes virus, which occurs in parts of South America where little person-to-person transmission has occurred. The virus is not transferred by casual human contact, coughing, or sneezing. The virus can only spread in North America, Europe, and Asia by contact with infected rodents or their droppings.
How soon do hantavirus symptoms develop after exposure?
The incubation period for hantavirus is usually 1 to 8 weeks, with most people developing symptoms 2 to 4 weeks after exposure. Because early symptoms mirror the flu, many patients may not associate their illness with rat exposure until the disease has advanced. If you’ve been in a rodent-infested area and have a fever and muscle aches, let your doctor know immediately.
Can hantavirus be treated? What is the survivability?
There is no specific antiviral therapy for hantavirus. Treatment is supportive, i.e., symptom management in the intensive care unit. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) has a mortality rate of about 38%; thus, getting to a hospital early is important. Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) is often less severe, with mortality rates of < 1% to ~15% depending on the particular strain of virus.
What is the first feeling of hantavirus? What makes it different from the flu?
In the early stages, hantavirus is virtually indistinguishable from the flu. Both induce fever, tiredness, muscle pains, and headaches. But hantavirus typically causes more severe pain in the lower body muscles (particularly the thighs, hips, and back), and gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and stomach upset are also less likely with flu. The primary distinction is the setting, in that if there has been a recent exposure to rodents, then worry should be raised clinically even with modest symptoms.
Where is hantavirus most widespread in the world?
Hantavirus infections are found worldwide, anywhere rodent reservoirs exist. HPS cases cluster across North and South America, with the highest prevalence in rural areas of the southwestern US, Chile, and Argentina. HFRS is most common in Europe and Asia, particularly Scandinavia, the Balkans, Russia, China, and the Korean Peninsula. Cases are rare in the UK but have been recorded, particularly in relation to bank vole populations.
Disclaimers: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you suspect hantavirus infection, seek emergency medical care without delay.
