What is Hantavirus and How it is Different from Coronavirus

While the world is still dealing with the havoc created by a novel coronavirus, another virus has appeared in China. A man in the Yunnan in Southwest China was tested positive for hantavirus and passed away. His death has caused panic all over the world. The news about this new virus comes when the scientists and medical experts all around the world are already trying to find out a cure for Covid-19.

What is hantavirus?

According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied disease syndromes in people worldwide. Infection with any hantavirus can produce hantavirus disease in people. It may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS).”

How it is different from coronavirus?

This disease does not spread from one person to another but it can be contracted if someone touches their eyes, nose or mouth after touching rodent droppings, urine, or nesting materials.

Hence, humans who get hantavirus usually come into contact with rodents that carry the virus. As per the CDC, rodent infestation in and around the home remains the primary risk for hantavirus exposure.

This virus also spreads when virus-containing particles are stirred in the air and the infection occurs if you breathe in the virus particles present in the air. This is why it is crucial to avoid dusting, brooming and vacuuming a rodent-infested area.

Some symptoms of hantavirus are:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Muscle ache
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Chills
• Stomach problems

Meanwhile, the number of deaths from the coronavirus cases stands at 423,621 worldwide and a total of 18,912 deaths are recorded by now. In India, there are 519 confirmed cases and 10 reported deaths.