90-Second Read: Keeping Threat Of Hantavirus At Bay

The Hantavirus has been in the limelight since the Dutch cruise ship, the MV Hondius, saw an outbreak in April and May. In the Americas, the pathogen causes Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome with fatality up to 50 per cent. It may be noted that the government has clarified that the threat of Hantavirus disease is low in Nepal as the Andes virus has not been found in the country.

Health officials coordinated the repatriations of the passengers and monitored the situation. The ship arrived in Rotterdam on May 18, and every passenger and crew member was retested and left the ship. The Hantavirus affects rodents but can also occasionally affect humans.

There are many types of Hantaviruses, but only a limited number are known to be pathogenic. In Europe and Asia, the Hantavirus causes haemorrhagic fever with renal failure, which affects the kidneys and blood vessels. Patients are usually kept in an intensive care unit, considering that the disease can escalate into grave conditions such as Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome or haemorrhagic fever with renal failure.