What is Hantavirus ? Know More So, the hashtag #Hantavirus is trending on Twitter ever since a case of a man dying in China from the ...
What is Hantavirus ? Know More
So, the hashtag #Hantavirus is trending on Twitter ever since a case of a man dying in China from the same, made the headlines. According to Global Times, a man passed away after contracting the virus while he was on his way back to Shandong Province on a chartered bus.
Now, the thing is that since this news contains the words 'virus' and 'China', people are under the impression that a brand-new virus has come into existence from the South Asian country and will attack the whole world like the novel pandemic COVID-19 is doing. But in reality, there's nothing to worry about.
During a fragile time like this it is extremely important to not be ill-informed regarding matters like these. Hantavirus is not a new virus but it has been around for several years now.
Unlike the novel pandemic coronavirus, hantavirus is not airborne. It is not a communicable virus and does not get transmitted from human to human. This virus usually only infects rodents and human beings can get infected if they come in contact with rodent urine, feces or saliva.
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention's website states, 'Rodent infestation in and around the home remains the primary risk for hantavirus exposure. Even healthy individuals are at risk for HPS infection if exposed to the virus'.
Symptoms of the virus include fever, headache, abdominal pain, dizziness, chills, muscle ache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea. People can also contract the infection if they touch their face, mouth, eyes, nose etc after coming in contact with rodent droppings or rats around the house.
Several videos on the Internet show people in China eating rats and bats - sometimes even raw - which is possibly why the news of a man dying of Hantavirus has caused fear and panic among people.
People who are well-aware of the correct facts about the virus are trying to educate those who are spreading fake news about it.
Kind people of the world, please use your common sense and the right way to access the Internet for valid information. Think before you tweet because your words have the potential of creating unnecessary panic during a time when panicking is the last thing we need to do.
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