Hantavirus

By: Devin and Juliette

I'm a carrier, watch out.

History

-Hantavirus is a recently identified disease, but it is not a new disease.

-First recognized by Dr. Lee Ho Wang

-Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HPS) was caused by the Sin Nombre virus which means “nameless virus” in Spanish.

Outbreaks of Hantavirus

“First” Outbreak of Hantavirus:• May 1993 around the four corners- Southwestern United States

where New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet.

• Young, physically fit man with shortness of breath was rushed to the

hospital and shortly died • The man’s fiancée also died a couple days before him, she also had

similar symptoms• The cause of outbreak was an increase in mice population.

Hide yo kids, hide yo wife, cuz they be infectin’ errybody up in here.

Yellowstone Outbreak

• 9 confirmed cases on September 13, 2012• 3 were fatal• 8 of the 9 were staying at Curry Village. • The cabins where the infected were staying have been closed.

How the disease attacks the body

-Various species of mice are carriers of hantavirus.

-Hantavirus is primarily spread to humans through the air. If the urine or droppings of the infected mice are disturbed, the virus can become airborne and can be inhaled.

-The virus is also contained

in the saliva of the infected

rat and can be passed if a

human is bitten.

Symptoms of Hantavirus

-Hantavirus can cause two serious conditions: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS).

-Symptoms of HFRS in include fever, kidney malfunction, headaches, pain in abdomen, bloodshot eyes blurry vision, and low platelet count, which can result in spontaneous bleeding.

Progression of HFRS

-After several days patients experience sudden drops in blood pressure which can lead to shock.

-shock can cause organ damage, especially to the brain.

_Around day 8 of having the virus, internal bleeding starts. This results in bloody urine, bloody vomit, and sometimes heavy bleeding in the brain.

-Day 11: confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and lung problems occur.

-About 20% of patients with HFRS die.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

-HPS symptoms include fever, drops in blood pressure, shock, and blood vessels begin to leak blood into the lungs.

-Fluid accumulates in the lungs and causes breathing difficulties.

-Within a few hours, most patients experience complete lung failure!

-Over 50% of people who have

HPS will DIE.

Prevention

Prevention in your home:

-Minimize contact with rodents and their droppings.

-Control rodent population.

-Keep house clean.

-Wear a mask that covers your mouth and nose when cleaning.

-Most people that are infected have reported that they haven't come into contact with rodents or their droppings.

Treatment

-There is no cure for hantavirus!- The disease has to be caught early and patients have to be closely

monitored.

-Treatment for patients is only in response to their symptoms.

-Low blood pressure is treated with medication and blood transfusions are needed for hemorrhaging and shock.

-Hemodialysis is used to treat kidney failure and involves mechanically cleaning the blood outside of the body and then pumping it back into the bloodstream.

Sources

Donna Olendorf, Christine Jeryan and Karen Boyden. “Hantavirus infections.” The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine.Vol 3. 1999.