Double Threat: Another deadly outbreak in China

Just when the world is in the middle of an all out catastrophic war with the novel Coronavirus pandemic with thousands of lives being lost everday, here comes another virus outbreak. And no surprise at all, it’s from China again. A report from the Global Times said that a man from the Yunnan province in China died while on a bus. The cause of death was found to be the Hantavirus infection. All people on the bus with him were tested for the virus.

The Centre for Disease Control reported that the virus comes mainly from rodents. There are two forms of the Hantavirus. The ‘New World’ Hantaviruses cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). Other ‘Old World’ Hantaviruses cause Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Those infected in China were found to have Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS).

The Coronavirus pandemic has infected nearly 400,000 around the world and killed over 16,500, with no vaccine available yet. At this time, having another deadly outbreak is just beyond comprehension. Especially if it spreads out of China to other parts of the world, like the Coronavirus did. It will be a disaster that mankind, in its billions of years of existence,has never seen before. The consequences of another global pandemic, at a time where the Coronavirus has already caused so much devastation, are unthinkable.

What is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome?

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe, sometimes fatal, respiratory disease in humans caused by infection with Hantaviruses. “Anyone who comes into contact with body fluids of rodents that carry Hantaviruses is at risk of HPS. Rodent infestation in and around the home remains the primary risk for Hantavirus exposure. Even healthy individuals are at risk for HPS infection if exposed to the virus,” says CDC. Early Hantavirus symptoms include fever, fatigue and muscle aches, especially in the large muscle groups such as hips, thighs, back, and sometimes shoulders. These symptoms are universal.

According to the US’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPS can be fatal. It has a 38 percent mortality rate, which is far higher than that of the Coronavirus at 3-4%. And what’s worse? There is no specific cure, treatment or vaccine for this virus. Diagnosing HPS in an individual who has only been infected a few days is difficult because early symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, and fatigue are easily confused with influenza.

A double threat of two pandemics could have an aftermath worse than that of any war or epidemic we’ve been through before. In these uncertain times, the best we can do pray we don’t have another global catastrophe amidst the mass chaos we are already in. And hope to have a positive turn of events at some point given the tremendous and resilient efforts of health workers all around the world. They deserve all our appreciation and salutations for risking their lives in the line of duty. Many health workers have died servicing infected patients. Many still continue to serve tirelessly. And we cannot thank them enough for it.