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Spanish authorities had sprayed disinfectant on passengers disembarked from the Hanta virus-hit cruise ship ‘MV Hondias’ at the Tenerife Airport in Canary Island, Spain, before boarding the plane.
Infection has been found in 3 more people who came in contact with Hantavirus. These include an American and a French traveler, who had earlier returned to their respective countries. At the same time, the initial report of a Spanish citizen quarantined in Madrid has also come positive.
So far 3 passengers have died. On April 11, an elderly Dutch passenger died on board. His wife was later found dead in South Africa. On 2 May, a German woman died on board.
All these passengers have returned from the cruise ship named ‘MV Hondius’, where virus cases were reported. The ship stopped in the Canary Islands of Spain. According to WHO, 9 cases of ship-related hantavirus have been confirmed.
WHO recommends 42 days of isolation for all people returning by ship. However, the US CDC said that human-to-human spread of the virus is rare and should not be considered a pandemic like Covid.
Earlier on Monday, 17 American travelers who came in contact with Hantavirus were brought to the Nebraska Medical Center in America. Here they will be kept under observation and quarantine for 42 days.
Hantavirus symptoms may take up to 8 weeks to appear
Hantavirus can cause kidney failure in humans. In many cases, the patient starts having high fever, body ache, difficulty in breathing and weakness. If the condition worsens, the lungs may fill with water and may even be life threatening.
It takes 1 to 8 weeks for symptoms of Hantavirus to appear in humans, but after this the patient’s condition begins to deteriorate rapidly. According to WHO, 35-40% of those infected with Hantavirus die within 6 weeks.
This virus spreads through animals
Hantavirus is a dangerous virus, which is mostly spread by animals like rats and squirrels. It is found in their stool, urine and saliva. It is named after the “Huntan” river of South Korea.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a special variety of Hantavirus named “Andes” can spread from person to person. It can spread through the saliva of an infected person, eating food together or sleeping in the same bed. Those taking care of the patient are at greater risk.
The first case of this virus was reported in America in 1993. An American couple had died at that time. During investigation, rats’ burrows and traces of virus were found around his house.
According to the US National Institutes of Health, about 1.5 lakh cases of Hantavirus are reported every year worldwide, most of which are in Europe and Asia.
More than half of these cases are from China. In 2018, the virus spread to 34 people at a birthday party in Argentina, killing 11.
Hantavirus is contracted through close contact with an infected person.
According to officials, Hantavirus does not spread easily. It can only be spread by very close contact with a person who is showing symptoms.
Jai Bhattacharya, acting director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said that first it will be seen who were close to the infected person. Accordingly, they will be placed in low, medium or high risk category.
He said if a passenger did not have close contact with an infected person, he or she would be considered at low risk.
However, this virus does not spread as fast as Covid-19. In most cases it is spread through contact with feces, urine or saliva of infected rats. Very few cases of human-to-human spread have been seen.
There is no cure for Hantavirus yet
There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for Hantavirus. Doctors treat the patient according to his symptoms so that his condition does not get worse.
If the patient has difficulty in breathing, he is given the help of oxygen or ventilator. Medicines and fluids are given to balance water and blood pressure in the body.
Doctors say that early identification and timely treatment increases the chances of saving the patient’s life. Therefore, if symptoms like fever, difficulty in breathing or weakness appear, it is important to go to the hospital immediately.
some people may be sent home
Health officials said some passengers may be allowed to go home after initial testing. However, they will be sent in a safe manner so that no one else is in danger on the way.
Even after reaching home, the local health department and CDC will continuously monitor them.
According to the CDC, monitoring is necessary for 42 days after exposure to the virus. If anyone shows fever or other symptoms during this period, he will have to isolate himself immediately.
kept in special medical center
America’s special National Quarantine Unit is located at the Nebraska Medical Center. This is America’s only federally funded quarantine facility. A special negative air pressure system has been installed in the rooms here, due to which the virus does not spread in the air.
Officials said the passengers were not brought on stretchers. They themselves got off the plane, sat in the vehicles and reached straight to their quarantine rooms.
Dr. Michael Wadman told that the living arrangements here are like a hotel. People will get in-room meals, will be able to do light exercise and will be examined daily.
If a passenger falls ill, he or she will be shifted to a hospital biocontainment unit, where dangerous infectious diseases are treated.
The Nebraska Medical Center is a special hospital in America, where there is a special facility for the treatment and quarantine of patients with dangerous and infectious diseases.
Hantavirus cases have arrived in India
In 2007, a 46-year-old man in Andhra Pradesh had this infection. According to an article published in Nature Journal, infection was found in 28 people who caught rats and snakes in 2008.
The most recent case is from 2016. According to the Indian Journal of Critical Care Medicine, a woman died due to Hanta virus in Mumbai.
Eight days after delivery, the woman started having severe stomach pain, fever and dizziness. Blood pressure decreased and difficulty in breathing started. He died within 10 days. The virus was confirmed in the postmortem.
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