Hantavirus: the rare pathogen linked to rodents that attacks the lungs
The recent deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, as well as three California residents, have brought attention to a rare rodent-borne virus that has the potential to turn deadly. While the risk of contracting the hantavirus remains relatively low compared to other sicknesses, it's still important to be aware of how the illness spreads and what steps you can take to protect yourself.
Hantaviruses are a family of viruses that have the potential to cause serious illness and death in humans, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They are typically spread from contact with rodent urine, droppings and saliva. In rare cases, the virus can be contracted from a bite or scratch. The CDC started tracing cases of hantavirus-related disease after a 1993 outbreak in the Four Corners region, where Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah meet.
Hantaviruses can cause two distinct syndromes. In the Western Hemisphere, hantaviruses can cause a severe and potentially fatal lung infection known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS); the virus that causes HPS is typically "spread by the deer mouse," which is common in many parts of California, the CDC said. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is another "group of clinically similar illnesses caused by hantaviruses found mostly in Europe and Asia"; Seoul virus, the type of hantavirus that causes HFRS, can be found worldwide, including in the United States.
HPS "starts like the flu: body aches, feeling poorly overall," Sonja Bartolome of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas said to The Associated Press. In the early stages of the illness, "you really may not be able to tell the difference between hantavirus and having the flu."
The infection began getting widespread attention after it was linked to the death of Betsy Arakawa, a pianist and the wife of actor Gene Hackman, in February. Both Arakawa and Hackman's remains were found at their home earlier that month. Hackman likely died of a "combination of high blood pressure and extensive heart disease days after the death of his wife," said The Washington Post.
Recently, HPS was also linked to three more deaths in a rural California town, weeks after they all contracted hantavirus. The deceased were all residents of Mammoth Lakes, a popular ski town in the Sierra Nevada range, Mono County public health officials said in a statement. Recording three cases of the virus this early in the year is "strikingly unusual," as the infection is typically detected later in the spring or summer. Officials believe that "deer mouse numbers are high this year in Mammoth (and probably elsewhere in the Eastern Sierra)," said Tom Boo, Mono County's public health officer. An increase in indoor mice "elevates the risk of hantavirus exposure."
While hantavirus can be potentially deadly, it is essential to keep the risk of contracting the virus in perspective, family medicine physician David Cutler said to Healthline. In the U.S., where there is "generally good hygiene" and there are not "a lot of people living in rural areas where rodent droppings are common," hantavirus will be "very rare, but not impossible to contract." There have been "fewer than 1,000 cases of hantavirus reported in the United States over the last 30 years," he added. By contrast, "over 100,000 people die each year of viral infections that we can prevent, like Covid, flu and RSV."
Hantavirus is "rare but not unusual," said the Post. Deer mice, the sole source of the virus in the area, are widespread in the Eastern Sierra region, according to county health officials. Since 1993, Mono County has recorded 27 cases of hantavirus, more than any other county in California, the public health officials' statement said. The majority of hantavirus cases in the U.S. occur west of the Mississippi River, according to the American Lung Association.
If you live in an area where you might come in contact with infected rodent infestations, the "most important public health message is not to aerosolize dropping," Forbes said. When cleaning, "spray the site and debris thoroughly with a solution of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water." Wait five minutes, then pick up what is left with a paper towel. Do not "vacuum or sweep up droppings!"
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
40 minutes ago
- Epoch Times
Number of Measles Cases in Canada Almost Triple That of US
The number of measles cases in Canada this year is nearly triple that of the United States, according to a July 28 weekly monitoring report from the Canadian government. As of July 19, confirmed measles cases reported in Canada had reached 3,878, according to the report. This is 2.9 times the 1,333 confirmed cases reported in the United States as of July 29, according to a July 30 update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health Line
an hour ago
- Health Line
Why Tick Season Is So Bad This Year and What You Can Do to Protect Yourself
Health officials report an increasing number of tick bites across the United States as the regions where the insects typically breed have expanded. Experts cite climate change as a major factor in the rise and spread of tick populations and the diseases they carry. Infected ticks can transmit Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and other illnesses by biting humans. You can reduce your risk of tick bites by wearing clothes that cover your arms and legs and checking yourself and your pets for ticks after outdoor activities. Ticks are being found in more places in the United States, which means the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-related illnesses is also on the rise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the highest rate of tick bites in more than five years. According to the CDC, there were 74 tick bites per 100,000 emergency room visits in the United States in July, the highest rate for this month since 2017. That rate reached a high of 134 tick bites per 100,000 emergency room visits in May, the highest for that month since 2019. Tick bites are especially prevalent in the Northeast region of the country. The CDC has recorded 127 such bites per 100,000 emergency room visits in that region so far this year. That area hit a high of 283 bites per 100,000 visits in May. The next most prone area is the Midwest, with 85 bites per 100,000 emergency visits. The Southeast sector has a rate of 35 bites per 100,000 visits, while the West has 16 bites per 100,000 and the South-Central area has 10 bites per 100,000. 'Over the past 20 years, tick habitats have been expanding gradually in the United States, William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease expert and professor of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, told Healthline. 'Since tick bites can spread certain infectious diseases, the geographic areas impacted by these infections has expanded along with the ticks.' 'Doctors have had to become more aware of these tick-transmitted infections and the general public needs to become mindful of how to prevent tick bites when they go out into nature,' he added. Why are ticks becoming more common? Durland Fish, PhD, the chief executive officer of the American Lyme Disease Foundation, said that the deer tick, which transmits Lyme Disease, has expanded its range to 16 northern states during the past 50 years. Fish, who is also a professor emeritus of epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health in Connecticut, said the expansion of this particular tick is due to the reintroduction of the deer into regenerated forest regions. 'The deer tick is completely dependent upon white-tailed deer for reproduction. No deer, no deer ticks. No ticks, no tick-borne diseases,' he told Healthline. Fish noted that the lone star tick, which carries ehrlichiosis, has been increasing its range northward over the past several decades. He said land use is the primary reason. 'Suburbanization has resulted in more human contact with ticks as people moved into suburban forested areas and deer hunting was restricted for safety,' he explained. Fish added that the range of the dog tick vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever has been relatively stable. Still, experts say climate change is a major factor in the increase and spread of ticks and tick-borne diseases. Amanda Roome, an associate director of the Tick-borne Disease Center and former graduate student at Binghamton University in New York, said in a report published by the university that warmer temperatures caused by climate change are allowing ticks to thrive. Schaffner agreed. 'The expanded tick territory has resulted from climate changes, which has made some previously cooler areas now warmer, creating a more congenial habitat in which ticks can thrive,' he said. 'Also, winters have been shorter and less severe, giving ticks the opportunity to be active longer.' What diseases are transmitted by ticks? Different types of ticks live in different regions. According to the CDC, while there are many different tick species found around the world, only a handful bite and transmit bacteria, viruses, and parasites (pathogens) that cause diseases in humans. The CDC notes that a specific tick species found in a U.S. region does not always mean it will transmit a specific disease in that area. Multiple factors affect the transmission of tick-borne disease and illness. Two of the most common tick-borne diseases are Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. 'Lyme infection can produce a variety of symptoms, most prominently chronic joint pains,' said Schaffner. 'Rocky Mountain spotted fever is an acute illness with high fever and a rash. Both these infections can be treated with antibiotics and supportive care when diagnosed promptly.' What to know about Lyme disease The CDC estimates that about 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease each year in the United States. Lyme disease was first recognized in 1975 in the town of Old Lyme, Connecticut. It's an infectious disease caused by bacteria carried by black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks. The ticks contract the bacteria after feeding on infected animals such as deer, mice, and birds. They transmit the bacteria to people by biting them. Lyme disease can develop in humans in as early as one day to as long as several years. One of the earliest – and most common – symptom of Lyme disease is a bull's-eye rash, also known as an erythema migrans. Other early symptoms include: chills fever enlarged lymph nodes sore throat vision changes fatigue muscle aches or headache Symptoms for later-stage Lyme disease can range from abnormal heart rhythm to numbness to meningitis. Treatment for early localized Lyme disease is a 10-to-14-day course of oral antibiotics. Medications used to treat the disease include: doxycycline amoxicillin cefuroxime Later-stage Lyme disease can affect the circulatory or central nervous systems and even cause joint damage in its most serious forms, and may require up to 28 days of treatment with antibiotics. There is current research and clinical trials looking into the possibility of a vaccine to help prevent Lyme disease. How to prevent tick bites There are a number of simple, practical ways to help reduce your risk of getting bitten by a tick. Roome has a varied list of suggestions. Among them: Cover up: Wear long-sleeved pants and shirts. Check yourself: Be sure to examine your clothing and skin for ticks after a walk in the woods or any other natural space. Lighten up: It's easier to spot ticks on lighter-colored clothes than darker-colored clothes. Spray your clothes: Apply the synthetic insecticide permethrin to the outside of your clothes. Use DEET: Studies are inconclusive, but Roome said it can't hurt to use DEET – even if it just protects you from mosquitoes. Stay on designated paths: Ticks are mostly found in bushes, branches, and undergrowth, so hike in the middle of a path. Check your pets: A tick can 'ride home' with a dog or other animal, so check your pets for ticks in the field and at home. Roll them off: Use a lint roller (the kind with sticky paper) on yourself and your pets. The ticks will stick to the roller instead of you. Dry your clothes: Ticks can actually survive the washing machine, but they can't live through a cycle in the dryer. Fish, however, believes the most effective prevention method starts with the deer population. 'Prevention efforts should target deer,' he said. 'There is research underway to treat deer that will kill ticks with an oral bait, but it is grossly underfunded in favor of human vaccines promoted by the pharmaceutical industry.' Schaffer notes you don't have to be in the great outdoors to get bitten by a tick. 'You do not have to hike in the woods to acquire ticks,' he said. 'You can encounter ticks in your backyard if you are clearing underbrush, which is how I acquired a couple of ticks a few years ago, so take precautions even close to home.' 'One study showed that golfers who chased their errant shots into brushy areas were more likely to pick up ticks along with their golf balls,' he added. He also urged caution when removing a tick from your skin. 'If you find an attached tick, carefully remove it,' he said. 'The best way is to use a tissue, grasp the tick firmly as close to the skin as possible and then gently pull it out. Do not pull with a sudden jerk as that may leave the tick's head embedded in your skin.'
Boston Globe
an hour ago
- Boston Globe
Second mosquito with EEE found in Massachusetts
'The fact that we've only had two findings so far, and they're in different parts of the state, is a little bit encouraging,' Brown said. 'It gives us less time for amplification.' Brown said most human cases occur in August and early September. Once the weather gets cold, mosquitos die off, she said. Advertisement The state Department of Public Health currently rates Bridgewater and most of southeastern Massachusetts at 'low risk' for EEE and West Nile, Bridgewater officials said. EEE, a mosquito-borne virus, kills 30 percent of people who develop a severe case of the illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Many people who survive a severe case experience ongoing neurological issues, the agency said. EEE often infects birds, which experience no symptoms. Mosquitos become infected when they bite infected birds, according to a Early symptoms in humans include high fever, stiff neck, headache, and lack of energy, according to the department. Symptoms occur three to 10 days after the bite of an infected mosquito. Advertisement There is no treatment for EEE. Patients with severe cases sometimes go into a coma within a week, the department said. The most dangerous complication of the disease is swelling of the brain, according to the department. 'Few people recover completely,' the department wrote in the fact sheet. 'People who survive this disease will often be permanently disabled.' In light of the positive test in Belchertown, officials in Easthampton this week advised residents to reduce the risk of mosquito bites by applying insect repellent, avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito hours — dusk and dawn — and wearing long sleeves. Additionally, officials advised residents to eliminate standing water, where mosquitos lay their eggs, from areas near their homes. 'Check rain gutters and drains,' officials said. 'Empty any unused flowerpots and wading pools, and change the water in birdbaths frequently.' Brown said officials will continue monitoring mosquito samples across the state. Truman Dickerson can be reached at
