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The recent hantavirus outbreak has surprised many people. This virus was found on the MV Hondius cruise ship that was sailing through the South Atlantic Ocean. So far, it has been reported that three individuals have lost their lives, two cases have been verified, and there are five additional suspected cases of the virus. Many are taken aback by this announcement. Some individuals are even making comparisons between hantavirus and the Covid-19 virus. Questions are being raised about whether hantavirus can be treated, how it spreads, and whether it is deadly. Dr. Budhraja pointed out that Covid-19 mainly spreads through droplets and aerosols produced by an infected person when they breathe. It can also be spread by touching contaminated surfaces. "In contrast, hantavirus is transmitted from rodents to people through inhaling virus particles found in the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rodents," he explained.
Additionally, many individuals caught Covid-19 from person-to-person transmission. This is the reason why Covid-19 caused a worldwide pandemic. In comparison, hantavirus rarely spreads from one person to another. Only a particular strain known as the Andes virus has shown some limited ability to transmit between close contacts. The initial symptoms of hantavirus resemble the flu, but it can quickly worsen, affecting the lungs and kidneys. People should be cautious about serious lung failure, known as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and kidney issues, referred to as Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which may come with sudden shortness of breath or shock. On the other hand, hantavirus is often considered more lethal than Covid due to its death rates reaching over 30-50% in severe cases. However, despite its widespread nature, Covid has a lower overall death rate. The lungs are chiefly impacted by Covid, but the heart, brain, kidneys, and blood vessels can also be affected due to inflammation and clotting issues.
Hantavirus mainly impacts the lungs, leading to severe respiratory failure, or the kidneys, resulting in hemorrhagic fever. Yet, there are several strains of the virus that can affect various other organs based on the specific strain. The key takeaway is that both viruses can affect different organ systems. However, hantavirus tends to cause more immediate and severe damage compared to the harm caused by Covid-19. Treatments for Covid-19 include available medications, such as vaccines and antiviral drugs. There are also therapies like oxygen and steroids to help manage the illness, which effectively lessen its severity.
Unlike the Covid-19 virus, standard antiviral treatments or vaccines are not available for hantavirus. Therefore, treatment mostly relies on supportive care such as ICU services, oxygen therapy, and/or early hospitalization to avoid serious health issues and death. This highlights the importance of quickly identifying and treating hantavirus infections.
