Hantavirus Infection

Description

This virus can infect the lungs causing a life threatening illness. Effective treatment is not yet available and over 50% of cases end in fatality. Hantavirus is found worldwide and is spread by human contact with rodent waste. The most common animal involved is the deer mouse. This infection cannot be spread from human to human.

Symptoms

Cough, fever, weakness, headache, respiratory failure, death.

Tests

A history and physical exam will be performed. Hantavirus is a rare lung condition requiring special tests, and ruling out other causes of lung symptoms is generally the first part of the work-up, followed by specialized studies.

Treatment

Therapy depends on the extent of disease and may include: intravenous fluid, mechanical ventilation, and ICU admission. Antibiotics are not effective against the hantavirus.

Related Images

Related Videos

First Synthetic Virus - Polio

July, 2002 Scientists have assembled the first synt...

The Difference Between Respirators and Surgical Masks

A surgical mask is not a respirator and that's an i...

Research

News