According to a publication by the president of the WHO on X, the strain of the virus that infected people is Andes
The World Health Organization (WHO) reported this Wednesday (6) that one of the passengers on the MV Hundius had confirmed the hantavirus infectionin Switzerland, according to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, president of the WHO.
According to post on social media, the strain of the virus that infected people is Andesthe type found in South America. As of this Wednesday, 3 infections with the virus out of the 8 cases have been confirmed.
Three deaths related to an outbreak of the infection were recorded on the Atlantic cruise. The cases occurred on the ship traveling from .
The virus is transmitted through contact with urine, feces and/or saliva from infected rodents, according to the WHO. The disease does not usually pass from person to person, but this type of transmission has already been recorded with the Andes strain.
Swiss authorities have confirmed a case of identified in a passenger from the MV Hondius cruise ship who presented to hospital in Zurich. The patient is currently receiving care at a hospital in Zurich, .
The patient had responded to an email from the…
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros)
What is hantavirus?
According to the Ministry of Health, the Hantavirus is an acute viral zoonosis which, in Brazil, manifests itself mainly in the form of Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome (HCPS), a serious condition that can compromise the respiratory and cardiovascular system.
The virus belongs to the Hantaviridae family and its natural reservoirs are wild rodents, which eliminate the infectious agent through urine, feces and saliva without showing symptoms throughout their lives.
Transmission to humans occurs, in most cases, through inhalation of contaminated aerosols from the excreta of these animals. It can also happen through direct contact with mucous membranes. — such as eyes, mouth and nose —, due to skin injuries or rodent bites. Although rare, transmission between people has already been recorded in countries such as Argentina and Chile, associated with a specific type of virus.
Symptoms
Symptoms of hantavirus can vary from a nonspecific initial condition, with fever, body aches and malaise, to more serious forms, with lung and heart involvement.
In severe cases, the disease can quickly progress to respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring immediate medical attention. The incubation period varies from one to five weeks, and can last up to 60 days.
Treatment
According to the Ministry of Health, there is no specific treatment for hantavirus infection. Patient management is carried out with supportive measures, according to the severity of each case, generally in a hospital environment.
As it is a rapidly evolving and potentially fatal disease, Hantavirus is mandatory for immediate notification and must be reported to the health authorities within 24 hours.
The folder also highlights the importance of prevention, especially for more exposed professionals, such as rural workers and healthcare teams.
The use of personal protective equipment, such as PFF3 masks, gloves, aprons and protective glasses, is recommended in risk situations, in addition to measures that avoid contact with environments contaminated by rodents.
*With information from AFP
