Authorities in Argentina are launching an urgent investigation to determine whether the country is the source of the deadly hantavirus outbreak. The drama takes on global proportions because of passengers from different countries who found themselves on a Swiss cruise ship.
According to the World Health Organization, the number of infected people is increasing. We talked about the basic characteristics of hantavirus, how it is transmitted, and whether it is present and to what extent in our areas, with the epidemiologist of the FBiH Public Health Institute, Mio Blažević.
Blažević explains that it is a virus that is transmitted by rodent excrement, and occurs in 40 forms. When it comes to Europe, we are talking about two types of hantavirus, and specifically in our country and region, the Dobrava virus form is present.
This type of hantavirus manifests itself through milder symptoms, which usually affect the kidneys, is not transmitted from person to person, has a milder clinical course and does not end in death, explained our interlocutor.
This is not the case in America, he continues, where there is a strain typical of South America, which has a more severe form, where pneumonia occurs and often ends in death.
How is hantavirus transmitted?
“Excretions of rodents, urine and saliva in places where they walk, most often in nature, are encountered when camping, cleaning basements, etc. where rodents spread, these are risky areas, and can end in infection”.
How common are hantavirus cases in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
“Extremely rare, the Dobrava virus is typical for our area, it is typical for people who work in nature, we are an endemic country for it and cases are not frequent”.
What are the symptoms of the form of the virus encountered here?
“The initial symptoms are fever, fever, digestive symptoms, vomiting, stomach pain, back pain. Urinary tract symptoms, kidney failure may occur.”
How to prevent infection?
“There is no specific therapy, he is treated with symptomatic therapy, supportive therapy so that the body can fight the virus on its own, preventive measures are implemented, so that we do not spend time where we have a lot of rodents, it is necessary to have basic protective equipment for working in nature, if we are cleaning basements, prepare the rooms before we start cleaning, put on masks, gloves, and the like”.
Do leptospirosis and hantavirus have anything in common?
“Similar features, transmitted in a similar way, similar symptoms, can be digestive, temperature, and fever”.
Is there a danger of an epidemic in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
“The transmission of this virus from person to person has never been recorded in our country, but this virus can be transmitted in America, but very rarely, if there is close contact with an infected person”.
Can this type of hantavirus appear here?
“The chances are extremely small. Maybe if a person comes who is infected in South America and there is some extended contact,” he writes. N1 BiH.
