Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare illness. It starts with flu-like symptoms, like a fever and body aches, and quickly gets worse. This can lead to serious problems with the lungs and heart, and in some cases, it can be life-threatening. It's sometimes also called hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome.

Different kinds of hantaviruses can cause HPS. These viruses are carried by various types of rodents. In North America, the deer mouse is a common carrier. You can get infected when you breathe in tiny particles of the virus, which can be released into the air from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Imagine tiny droplets from the rodent's waste becoming airborne. Breathing these in is how you get the infection.

Unfortunately, there aren't many treatments for HPS. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid contact with rodents and to properly clean up areas where rodents live. This includes sealing any gaps or openings where rodents might enter a home or building. If you have to clean up rodent droppings, it's vital to wear a mask and gloves to prevent inhaling the virus. Thoroughly cleaning the area with disinfectant is also crucial.

Hantavirus infection typically takes about two to three weeks to cause symptoms. This illness, called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, happens in two main phases.

Early Stage (often several days): The first phase is characterized by common flu-like symptoms. You might feel:

• Fever and chills: Feeling hot and shivery.
• Muscle aches: Pain in your muscles.
• Headache: A painful sensation in your head.

Some people also experience:

• Nausea: Feeling sick to your stomach.
• Stomach pain: Discomfort in your abdomen.
• Vomiting: Throwing up.
• Diarrhea: Frequent bowel movements.

Later Stage (as the illness progresses): If the infection isn't treated, it can damage your lungs. This damage leads to fluid buildup in the lungs, making it hard to breathe. Your body's other systems can also be affected. Symptoms in this phase might include:

• Cough: A persistent, often dry, cough.
• Difficulty breathing: Shortness of breath, or trouble taking deep breaths.
• Low blood pressure: A dangerous drop in the pressure of blood flowing through your body.
• Irregular heart rate: Your heart beating too fast or too slow, or inconsistently.

These later symptoms are serious and require immediate medical attention.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) symptoms can get much worse very fast, turning dangerous quickly. If you're feeling sick with flu-like symptoms that keep getting worse over a few days, it's important to see a doctor. If you start having trouble breathing, seek immediate medical attention. This is a serious illness that needs prompt care.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a sickness that only affects people in the Americas. Different kinds of hantavirus are connected to specific types of rodents.

In North and Central America, the most common animal carrying this virus is the deer mouse. A lot of the cases in the US happen in states west of the Mississippi River. This is likely because deer mice are more common in those areas.

Other rodents that can carry the virus in North America include rice rats and cotton rats, mostly found in the southeastern states, and white-footed mice, more prevalent in the northeast. In South America, the virus is also linked to rice rats and vesper mice.

Essentially, different types of mice and rats in different parts of the Americas can carry hantaviruses that can make people sick.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is more often found in rural western parts of the US. However, anyone who comes into contact with areas where rodents live can get sick. Rodents leave their droppings and urine, and build nests in many places. These places have a higher chance of having the virus.

Here are some examples of places where you might come across rodents and be at risk:

• Farm buildings: This includes barns, stables, and outbuildings.
• Buildings not used often: Storage sheds, garages, and similar structures are common places for rodents to live.
• Vacation homes or cabins: These are often not cleaned or maintained as often as homes that are lived in year-round.
• Camping spots: Campsites and shelters used for short periods can have rodent problems.
• Attics and basements: These areas are often hidden and provide a perfect environment for rodents to nest.
• Construction sites: Construction often disturbs rodent populations and can expose workers to the virus.

If you're in a situation where you might encounter rodents, there are things you can do to lower your risk of getting HPS:

• Don't open or clean long-unused buildings: If a building has been empty for a while, it's best to avoid going inside until it's been professionally cleaned.
• Don't clean up rodent nests or droppings yourself: Contact a pest control professional to handle rodent issues. They have the proper equipment and safety gear.
• Be careful in jobs that involve rodents: If your job brings you into contact with possible rodent habitats (like construction, utility work, pest control, or farming), take extra precautions to avoid getting the virus. Wear protective gear like masks and gloves, and make sure to clean up any rodent droppings or nests safely.

Remember, taking precautions when you might encounter rodents is key to protecting yourself from hantavirus.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a serious illness that can quickly become life-threatening. If the illness becomes severe, the heart struggles to pump enough oxygen to the rest of the body. Different types of hantavirus can cause varying degrees of illness. For example, the type of hantavirus often spread by deer mice has a death rate that can be as high as 50% in those who get very sick from it. This means that if someone gets very sick from this specific type of hantavirus, there's a chance between 30% and 50% that the illness will be fatal.

Preventing Hantavirus: Keeping Rodents Out of Your Home

Hantavirus is a disease that can sometimes spread from rodents to people. Taking steps to keep rodents away from your home and workplace can help protect you and your family. Here are some simple ways to do that:

1. Seal Up Entry Points: Rodents are incredibly small and can squeeze through tiny openings. Even a hole as small as a quarter of an inch (about the width of a dime) is enough for a mouse to get inside. To block these entry points, use materials like wire mesh, steel wool, metal flashing, or cement to seal any gaps or holes in walls, floors, and foundations.

2. Eliminate Food Sources: Rodents are attracted to food. Make sure you're not providing an easy meal for them. Wash dishes immediately after use, clean up crumbs and spills on counters and floors, and store food (including pet food) in airtight containers. Use tightly sealed lids on garbage cans to prevent attracting pests.

3. Remove Nesting Spots: Rodents need places to build nests. Keeping their surroundings clear can make your home less appealing. Remove brush, grass, and debris from around the foundation of your home. Keep yard clutter, like woodpiles and compost bins, away from your house.

4. Using Traps Safely: Traps can help remove rodents from your property. Spring-loaded traps are a common option and should be placed along baseboards. However, be extremely careful when using poison-based traps. These poisons can be harmful to people and pets, so follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully and take precautions to ensure safety.

5. Manage Outdoor Attractions: Rodents often seek shelter in or around outdoor items. Keep woodpiles, compost bins, and other potential rodent havens at least 20 feet away from your house.

6. Preparing Unused Spaces: If you have cabins, campers, or other infrequently used buildings, open the doors and windows to air them out before cleaning. This helps eliminate any potential nesting spots or food sources. This is especially important if you haven't used the space for an extended period.

A blood test can show if your body has created antibodies to fight off a hantavirus. If you have symptoms that could be hantavirus, your doctor might also want to run other tests to make sure it's not something else with similar symptoms. These additional tests help your doctor determine the exact cause of your illness.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) doesn't have many specific cures. However, getting treatment quickly is important for a better outcome. Early diagnosis, immediate hospital care, and good support for breathing are key.

If your HPS is severe, you'll need immediate care in the intensive care unit (ICU). Doctors might need to use a breathing machine (mechanical ventilation) to help your lungs and manage extra fluid buildup. This involves inserting a tube into your windpipe (trachea) to keep your airways open and working properly. This is called intubation.

In very serious cases, a treatment called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) might be necessary. ECMO is a machine that takes over the job of getting oxygen into your blood. Your blood is pumped through the machine, which removes carbon dioxide and adds oxygen. Then, the oxygen-rich blood is sent back to your body. This helps ensure you have enough oxygen.