Hanta/Andes Virus

[Áine]

I’ve been paying attention to the evolving situation regarding the cruise boat and the Hantavirus onboard… WHO has now confirmed today that it is in fact the Andes Virus, which isn’t good news at all

 

 Sadly some have died, and today someone who departed the boat previously presented at their GP in Zurich with symptoms and has been hospitalised 😪

 

It’s a rapidly changing situation and all news outlets are reporting on it…

 

I’m not sure that the world has learnt anything from Covid etc let’s hope that they do get control of this but I’m not holding out much hope 🤷‍♀️ 

 

Yet another sign of scripture being fulfilled as we hurtle towards the end of this system. 

[dljbsp]

🧬 Key facts

• Family: Hantaviridae
• Reservoir: Wild rodents—mainly the long-tailed pygmy rice rat
• Transmission:
  • Breathing in aerosolized rodent urine, droppings, or saliva
  • Touching contaminated surfaces and then mouth/nose

Unlike most hantaviruses, Andes virus can spread person-to-person (rare but documented)

Mortality can be 30–40%
 

🧪 Treatment

• No specific antiviral cure
• Supportive hospital care (oxygen, ICU support) is critical
• Early detection significantly improves survival

Edited 3 hours ago by dljbsp

[Barbllm]

It was first identified in 1978. It's also mentioned in Richard Preston's book "The Hot Zone" because it's a hemorrhagic fever type disease, the same as Ebola. Only less fatal. 

[Mike047]

Wonder when the ship was last inspected. It sounds like cleanliness in part of the ship may have been a cause of this.

 

[Áine]

37 minutes ago, Mike047 said:

Wonder when the ship was last inspected. It sounds like cleanliness in part of the ship may have been a cause of this.

 

The Dutch couple who had it first and brought it onto the ship went on a bird watching trip to a landfill site… it’s thought that’s where they picked it up and as its the Andes type it’s going person to person, I don’t think it’s really down to the conditions on the ship? 

[Áine]

2 hours ago, dljbsp said:

🧬 Key facts

• Family: Hantaviridae
• Reservoir: Wild rodents—mainly the long-tailed pygmy rice rat
• Transmission:
  • Breathing in aerosolized rodent urine, droppings, or saliva
  • Touching contaminated surfaces and then mouth/nose

Unlike most hantaviruses, Andes virus can spread person-to-person (rare but documented)

Mortality can be 30–40%
 

🧪 Treatment

• No specific antiviral cure
• Supportive hospital care (oxygen, ICU support) is critical
• Early detection significantly improves survival

And up to 8 weeks quarantine !! That’s a very long time…

They have just said that those who leave the ship in the Canary Islands are free to get on a commercial flight and head home… they have learnt nothing. 

[Mike047]

1 minute ago, Áine said:

, I don’t think it’s really down to the conditions on the ship?

Good to hear. We were aware of a different situation where the conditions aboard a ship caused many to be ill.