Millions warned to beware of frightening rodent disease as two Americans test positive
Share this @internewscast.com

Experts are sounding the alarm over the spread of a rare deadly virus after two Americans tested positive this week. 

Hantavirus, the disease that killed Gene’s Hackman’s wife Betsy Arakawa, is a rare but severe respiratory illness spread through exposure, typically inhalation, to rodent droppings.

The hantavirus, which kills 30 to 50 percent of people infected, was first identified in South Korea in 1978 when researchers isolated the virus from a field mouse. It is rare in the US, with fewer than 50 cases reported yearly.

But now two cases have been confirmed in Nevada – bringing the US’ total count to 864 cases since 1993.

Health experts are warning the public to be extra vigilant as warmer weather arrives, especially around areas such as sheds, barns, trailers, garages, and cabins where deer mice may have nested in the cold weather and left droppings. 

Early symptoms of hantavirus include fever, fatigue and muscle aches, and may later progress to headaches, chills, and nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.  

Hantavirus can also cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), with patients often experiencing a tightness in the chest, as the lungs fill with fluid.

HPS can be deadly and 38 percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms die from the disease.

Experts are sounding the alarm over the spread of a virus seldom seen in the US that comes from mice - the same virus that killed actor Gene Hackman 's wife - after two more cases have come to light

Experts are sounding the alarm over the spread of a virus seldom seen in the US that comes from mice – the same virus that killed actor Gene Hackman ‘s wife – after two more cases have come to light 

Betsy Arakawa was found dead in the Santa Fe home she shared with her husband, Gene Hackman, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding their passing gripped the nation¿s attention for weeks

Betsy Arakawa was found dead in the Santa Fe home she shared with her husband, Gene Hackman, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding their passing gripped the nation’s attention for weeks

Melissa Bullock, Nevada State Medical Epidemiologist, told local 2 News Nevada: ‘We urge people to be aware of any signs of rodent activity and to take precautions to reduce the risk of exposure to hantavirus.

‘Anyone who has been in contact with rodents, nests or droppings and subsequently develops symptoms consistent with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome should see a health care provider immediately.’

No details are known about the two people who have tested positive. 

To reduce risk of exposure, state health officials recommend airing out spaces where mice droppings could be, avoid sweeping droppings, use disinfectant and wipe up debris, and wear gloves and a mask. 

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses found worldwide that are spread to people when they inhale aerosolized fecal matter, urine, or saliva from infected rodents.

The rarity of hantavirus in the US is partly because the country has fewer rodent species that the illness can circulate amongst, compared to Asia and Europe, where multiple rodent species act as hosts.

However, Virginia Tech researchers found that while deer mice are still the primary reservoir for hantaviruses in North America, the virus is now circulating more widely than previously thought, with antibodies detected in six additional rodent species where they had not been documented before.

The Virginia Tech team analyzed data from the National Science Foundation’s National Ecological Observatory Network to better understand how hantavirus spreads in the wild.

Between 2014 and 2019, the program gathered and tested 14,004 blood samples from 49 different mouse species at 45 locations across the US to test for levels of hantavirus antibodies.

Seventy-nine percent of positive blood samples came from deer mice species, which cause around 90 percent of all hantavirus cases in the US.

Debbie Zipperian, from Montana, survived Hantavirus after being diagnosed with the disease at 46. The former cowgirl told the Daily Mail how it upended her life

Debbie Zipperian, from Montana, survived Hantavirus after being diagnosed with the disease at 46. The former cowgirl told the Daily Mail how it upended her life

The above shows hantavirus cases recorded in the US

The above shows hantavirus cases recorded in the US

But, researchers found that other rodent species had a higher percentage of hantavirus infections than deer mice – between 4.3 and five percent.

The vast majority of human cases are traced back to two or three key deer mouse species, but the study’s findings reveal that the virus is more flexible than scientists once thought, broadening what they know about its basic biology.

Virginia had the highest infection rate among rodents, with nearly eight percent of samples testing positive for hantavirus – four times the national average of around two percent.

Colorado had the second-highest infection rate, followed by Texas, both known risk regions for the virus, with average positive blood samples more than twice as high as the national average.

The team’s findings could influence how public health officials monitor and evaluate hantavirus risk and help clarify human cases in areas where the usual rodent host is uncommon or missing.

Mr Paansri said: ‘This new information is expected to help us understand where and when hantavirus is most likely to occur, which is crucial for predicting outbreaks and informing public health officials.

‘We believe that many lessons learned from this study can be generalized to other wildlife diseases, considering that their distribution is global.’

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

I skipped ultra-processed foods for a year and a half – here are 4 major life changes I experienced

Steffan Rhys has eaten no ultra-processed food for 18 months (Image: Steffan…

Amazon Slashes Price on Top-Rated Fan to Under £25 Ahead of UK Heatwave

With temperatures climbing across the UK and homes getting noticeably stuffier, many…

UK Sees Spread of New Covid Variant XFG with Distinctive Symptom

A new strain of Covid is spreading across the UK with some…

Could your vagina be impacted by hay fever? Doctors discuss symptoms, treatments, and how common this unusual condition really is.

As Britain braces for a July ‘pollen bomb’ in the coming week…

Doctor Alerts Millions of Britons About Undiagnosed Sleep Condition Tied to Serious Health Risks

A GP has warned patients to check for signs of a hidden…

The Secret Ingredient to Boost Your Protein Shakes for Enhanced Muscle Growth

For any gym-lover or weight-lifter, they’re never too far from their beloved…

Urgent Alert: Popular Eye Drops Recalled Due to Potential Risk of Causing Blindness

Health officials have urgently recalled over 11,000 eye drops due to manufacturing…

Authorities Caution: Prescription Pills May Contain a Drug 100 Times More Lethal than Fentanyl

Health officials have issued an urgent warning about a drug far deadlier…

New Health Guidelines Could Increase Obesity Rates in America

More than 100 million Americans who qualify as overweight could see themselves…

Researchers Uncover the Reasons Behind the Significant Rise in Cancer Deaths Among Young Adults and Its Impact

Experts have revealed the reason why an increasing number of young adults…

Significant Study Uncovers Real Situation of Children’s Health: Chronic Conditions Rise by 20%

Children in the US are significantly more likely to suffer from a…