What is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome?

When we think of health risks, our minds often jump to common ailments or widely publicised outbreaks. But what about the less common but very serious threats that are hiding in plain sight? One of these hidden dangers is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). Even though it does not happen very often, it is important to be aware of it because it can cause severe illness that gets worse quickly and often has a high death rate.

This blog is meant to help people learn more about Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, including how it spreads in unusual ways, how to spot its early flu-like symptoms, how the disease gets worse quickly, and, most importantly, how to avoid getting it.

What is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)?

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a serious lung disease caused by specific types of hantaviruses. Hantaviruses do not spread from person to person, which is different from most common viruses. Instead, they mostly spread to people when they touch infected rodents or their waste.

Some types of wild rodents, like deer mice, cotton rats, rice rats, and white-footed mice, have these tiny viruses in their urine, droppings, and saliva. When these fluids are stirred up into the air, they can be breathed in by people, which can cause an infection.

HPS is especially dangerous because it hurts the lungs. When you breathe in the virus, it attacks the small blood vessels in your lungs, making them "leaky." This causes fluid to build up in the lungs, which makes it very hard to breathe and could even cause respiratory failure.

What are the Hantavirus Disease Symptoms?

The first hantavirus symptoms can look a lot like the flu and other common viral illnesses, which makes it hard to diagnose early. But it IS very important to be careful, especially if you might have been around rodents. HPS usually goes through different stages:

Early Symptoms

The early hantavirus disease symptoms show up 1 to 8 weeks after being exposed and include:

• Fever: Usually high (over 38.3°C or 101°F).
• Fatigue: Feeling very tired and weak.
• Muscle Pain: Muscle pain, especially in big muscle groups like the thighs, hips, back, and shoulders.
• Headaches: They do not go away and are usually very bad.
• Dizziness: Common flu-like symptoms.
• Gastrointestinal Problems: About half of HPS patients have nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach pain.

Late Symptoms

These symptoms usually show up 4 to 10 days after early symptoms, and this is when the disease gets worse quickly and starts to affect the lungs:

• Coughing: Often a dry cough that can become productive.
• Shortness of Breath (Dyspnoea): This is the most alarming symptom, rapidly worsening as fluid builds in the lungs.
• Chest Tightness or Pain: A feeling of pressure or discomfort in the chest.
• Rapid Heartbeat: The heart struggles to compensate for low oxygen levels.
• Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension): A sign of severe illness and potential shock.

How Does Hantavirus Spread?

The main way that hantavirus spreads to people is through breathing in virus particles that have been aerosolised. This usually happens when:

• If you disturb rodent nests, droppings, or urine in small, poorly ventilated spaces like sheds, barns, cabins, basements, or old cars, virus particles can get into the air and be breathed in.
• Direct contact means touching dirty surfaces, like floors or countertops, and then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Getting bitten by an infected rodent can spread the virus, but this is very rare.
• Food or water that has been contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.

How to Treat Hantavirus?

There is no specific antiviral treatment or cure for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome right now. The main goal of treatment is to help the body fight the infection and manage symptoms. Getting medical help right away in an intensive care unit (ICU) is very important for getting better results. Important parts of treatment are:

• Oxygen Therapy: Patients often need extra oxygen because fluid builds up in their lungs.
• Mechanical Ventilation: If breathing becomes very hard, a breathing tube may be put in (intubation) and connected to a ventilator to help the lungs work.
• Fluid Management: To keep more fluid from building up in the lungs, it is important to carefully manage intravenous fluids.
• Blood Pressure Support: Medicines may be given to help keep blood pressure steady and stop shock from happening.
• Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): ECMO may be used in very serious AND life-threatening situations. This advanced life support machine does the work of the lungs by moving the patient's blood through an outside device that adds oxygen and takes away carbon dioxide.

What are the Preventive Ways to Stop HPS?

Since there is no specific treatment for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, the best way to protect yourself is to avoid getting it. Here are some important steps to take to avoid problems:

• Mice can fit through very small openings. Check your home, outbuildings, and cars for any holes or gaps that mice could use to get in and seal them. 
• To get rid of rodents in and around your house, use snap traps instead of glue traps, which let rodents poop and possibly spread the virus.
• Put food, even pet food, in containers that are sealed and will not let mice in. Pick up spills and crumbs right away.
• Remove trash, dense plants, and clutter from around your home to keep rodents away.
• Always wear rubber or plastic gloves and, if possible, a well-fitting N95 respirator mask when cleaning up rodent droppings or nests.
• The virus can become airborne when you dry sweep or hoover. Instead, use a bleach solution (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) or a household disinfectant to wet down the areas that are dirty.
• Pick up droppings and nesting materials with paper towels, put them in a sealed plastic bag, and throw them away in a covered bin. Use a mop or sponge to clean the area that has been disinfected.
• Before putting trapped or dead rodents in a bag and throwing them away, spray them with disinfectant.
• Put food in containers that mice cannot get into.

Final Thoughts

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, though rare, serves as a powerful reminder of the diverse and sometimes unseen health risks that exist in our environment. Your first line of defence should be knowing how it spreads through rodents and being able to recognise its symptoms. You can greatly lower your risk of exposure by following strict prevention measures, especially when you are in places that might have rodents. 

As you continue to build your lives and careers across borders, cherishing family ties and embracing new opportunities, the importance of a strong health safety net cannot be overstated. Unexpected illnesses, especially those that need a lot of care like HPS, can be very expensive and very upsetting. This is exactly why getting comprehensive health insurance for NRIs is a great way to ensure peace of mind. Our health insurance policy makes sure that you and your loved ones can get high-quality medical care without having to worry about money, whether you live in another country or are just visiting India. Do not take chances with your health; get the right insurance coverage today to protect your future.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) a common disease in India?

   HPS is most common in the Americas (North and South America) because some native rodent species there carry specific strains of hantavirus. Indians living in America should be aware of the health risks and ways to prevent them.

2. Can HPS be passed from one person to another? 

   No, not usually. The hantaviruses that cause HPS in North and South America do not usually spread from person to person. The Andes virus strain in South America is the only one that has been shown to spread from person to person in a few rare cases. Contact with infected rodent waste is the main way that the disease spreads.

3. Are house mice or rats a danger for HPS?

   House mice and Norway rats can carry other diseases, but they are not usually the main carriers of the hantaviruses that cause HPS in the Americas. Specific wild rodents, such as the deer mouse, cotton rat, rice rat, and white-footed mouse, are to blame. But it is always best to get rid of any rodent problems for the sake of everyone's health.

4. How long does it take for symptoms of HPS to show up after being exposed? 

   The average time it takes for HPS symptoms to show up is between 1 and 5 weeks, but they can show up anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks after being exposed to the virus.

5. Is there a vaccine shot that protects against HPS?

   Currently, there is no commercially available vaccine for Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome in the regions where HPS is prevalent. Research is ongoing.

6. What should I do if I cleaned a shed and now feel sick?

   If you cleaned a place where rodents might have been, and then you start to feel like you have the flu, especially if you also have trouble breathing, you need to see a doctor right away. Make sure to tell your doctor if you might have been around rodents.