Hantavirus Outbreak

As citizens of a wealthy nation, some things such as infectious diseases are not in the front of our minds. Infectious diseases are viruses or bacteria that attack and destroy a human or animal host. This includes cholera, which is transmitted through a toxin in the water. Here in the United States contaminated water is not as big of a concern as cancer. One thing about infectious diseases is they can be cured unlike cancer. I am not implying that these awful diseases will never find their way to the U.S. When I was younger an infectious disease swept through the southwestern states. This disease was known as the Hantavirus.

In 1993 the Hantavirus was discovered in the New Mexico. The disease caused by the virus is called the Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS). During this time, people were dying without explanations in the four corners of the U.S. When patients made it to the doctors their first symptoms were flu-like with a fever, headache and aching. The major and the deadliest symptom is that fluid fills their lungs causing problems with breathing which leads to suffocation. As of today there is no cure or vaccination for the disease. Although if you are brought into Intensive Care Unit early enough they can alleviate the respiratory distress. The patients are intubated and receive oxygen therapy. If this is done in time it can save the person's life.

Epidemiologists believed that the virus was transmitted through rodent droppings. After trapping many different species of rodents, researchers found source of the Hantavirus was deer mice. We breathe in the virus from their droppings, urine and saliva in a process known as aerosolization. For example if a mouse makes a nest in your shed and you find droppings when you sweep them up this moves the viruses into the air making you sick. It is recommended that if you come in contact with droppings you should use bleach to clean it up.

Why the sudden outbreak in 1993? Due to El Nino that year, the southwestern part of the country had more snow and rainfall than normal. The plants that usually die from droughts survived. The surviving plants left more food for the deer mice and increased their reproduction rate. There were ten times more deer mice in 1993 than the year before. The increases in the amount of mice lead to more contact between them and humans.

As of 2000 there have been 277 reported cases in 31 states. The majority of the cases are west of the Mississippi River. There are some reported cases in eastern states such as New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and Florida. Most of the cases are reported primarily in fall and spring farming seasons. It is reported that 60% of affected people are male. HCPS has a predisposition for affecting healthy, young adults. The age can range from 10 to 75 years old. HCPS also doesn’t target one specific race to this date; 77% Caucasian, 20% Native American, 2% African American, 1% Asian and 11% Hispanic have been affected.

Hantavirus is a serious disease that was very deadly. Thankfully there hasn't been a outbreak since 1993. Epidemiologists are still trying to find a vaccine for the Hantavirus.

Posted by: barkley519