The coronavirus outbreak has brought most of the world to a grinding halt with in excess of four lakhs people affected and a death toll nearing 19000 with China, Italy, USA, Spain, France and Iran the worst hit. Yesterday it was reported that a man passed away in China due to Hantavirus and the 32 passengers who travelled with him were also tested with results awaited.

The Hantavirus was first came to be known in 1950-53 when 3000 American and South Korean soldier lost their lives. It got its name after the area where it first appeared which was on the banks of river Hantan in S.Korea. The virus first infects rats and cause widespread sickness among them and only pass on to humans if they happen to touch the urine, saliva, feces or nesting materials of a rat or other rodents and then touch their mouth, nose or eyes. Human to human infection is very rare even though it has happened in the past.

The symptoms of hantavirus are

• Fever greater than 101◦F, chills, body aches, headaches.
• Nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain.
• New rash (faint red spots)
• A dry cough followed by rapid onset of breathing difficulty