Updates on Hanta Virus
Amidst spreading news of Hanta virus, it is important to know that this is not a new virus
It causes haemorrhagic fever and pulmonary renal syndrome.
The virus has appeared earlier too. This is most widely spread zoonotic rodent borne - virus. We can find it’s tracss in 1990s and 2004. In India, cases were reported in 2008 and 2016.
In 2008, 28 people of Irula community of Tamilnadu got affected.
The community mainly comprises of rat and snake catchers. In 2016 a 12 years old in Mumbai died of this virus.
The virus is rodent-borne
It can’t be transmitted from one person to other.
Main carrier: Deer Mice
Risk assessment for Indians: Moderate.
Treatment: limited
Precautions: avoid rodents and their habitats
Compiled based on research papers, articles, stats published on Internet
~ Ashish