Hantavirus is a rare but potentially deadly disease spread mainly by rodents such as rats and mice. People become infected after inhaling tiny virus particles released into the air from rodent urine, droppings, saliva, or nesting materials. Although uncommon, the disease can progress rapidly and cause severe damage to the lungs, heart, or kidneys.
Health authorities around the world have periodically raised concern about hantavirus outbreaks because of the virus’s high fatality rate in severe cases. The disease is not usually spread from person to person, unlike illnesses such as COVID-19 or influenza. Most infections occur after exposure to contaminated environments, especially enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces where rodents have been present.
The virus is commonly associated with rural settings, campsites, farms, storage facilities, abandoned buildings, sheds, cabins, and warehouses. People cleaning dusty rooms or structures that have not been used for long periods face a higher risk because sweeping or disturbing contaminated dust can release the virus into the air.
The early symptoms of hantavirus often resemble ordinary flu, malaria, or other viral infections, making it difficult to identify in its initial stages. A person may first develop fever, fatigue, headaches, chills, dizziness, and muscle aches, especially in the back, shoulders, hips, and thighs. Some patients also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.
After several days, the illness can suddenly worsen. Patients may begin coughing and develop chest tightness and severe difficulty breathing as fluid accumulates in the lungs. In more serious cases, blood pressure may drop sharply and organs can begin to fail. Some forms of hantavirus also attack the kidneys, leading to renal complications.
Doctors say one of the most dangerous aspects of hantavirus is how quickly respiratory distress can develop once severe symptoms begin. Patients who initially appear to have a mild viral illness may deteriorate within hours. Because of this, medical attention should be sought immediately if a person develops breathing problems after possible exposure to rodents or rodent-infested areas.
There is currently no specific cure or universally approved antiviral treatment for hantavirus. Management mainly involves supportive hospital care aimed at stabilizing the patient and helping the body recover. In severe cases, patients may require oxygen therapy, intensive care monitoring, intravenous fluids, or mechanical ventilation to assist breathing. Early treatment significantly improves survival chances.
Doctors also emphasize that people should avoid attempting to self-medicate at home once breathing difficulties begin. Delaying hospital treatment can increase the risk of death because the disease can progress very rapidly.
Preventing hantavirus largely depends on reducing exposure to rodents and contaminated environments. Experts advise people not to sweep or vacuum rodent droppings because this can spread infectious particles into the air. Instead, contaminated areas should first be ventilated by opening doors and windows for at least 30 minutes before cleaning begins.
Rodent droppings and nesting materials should be sprayed with disinfectant or a bleach solution and carefully wiped away while wearing gloves and a high-quality face mask such as an N95 respirator. Hands should be washed thoroughly afterward. Food should always be stored in sealed containers, garbage disposed of properly, and cracks or holes in homes sealed to prevent rodents from entering.
Campers and travelers are also advised to avoid sleeping directly on bare ground near rodent habitats and to ensure tents and food supplies are protected from contamination.
Although hantavirus infections remain relatively rare, public health experts warn that climate change, flooding, changing weather patterns, and expanding human settlement into wildlife habitats may increase human contact with rodents in some regions.
Anyone experiencing severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, collapse, or rapidly worsening symptoms after rodent exposure should call emergency medical services immediately. In Kenya, emergency numbers include 999, 112, and 911, which work on many mobile networks. Patients should also contact the nearest hospital emergency department or county health authorities for urgent guidance.
Medical experts say awareness remains one of the strongest defenses against hantavirus. Understanding how the virus spreads, recognizing early warning signs, and seeking immediate treatment can make the difference between recovery and a life-threatening medical emergency.
Reported by Mohd Hassan and edited by Faustine Ngila (Impact Newswire)
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Mohd Hassan has extensive experience in news gathering, editing, and writing for the newswire industry, Contact – Info@impactnews-wire.com
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