New Delhi: A virus called Hantavirus is causing fear after a cruise ship traveling from Argentina to Cape Verde reported three deaths and one confirmed case. The World Health Organization has said that the risk for most people is still low.
Many people are worried after hearing about the deaths. They are asking if this virus can spread from one person to another. Usually, hantavirus spreads from rats and similar animals. It spreads through their urine, saliva, or waste. If it starts spreading easily between people, it could become very dangerous.
At first, the symptoms look like normal flu. A person may have fever, body pain, headache, stomach problems, and a light cough. Some people may not feel sick in the beginning. But in serious cases, it can harm the lungs and kidneys. People may have trouble breathing, which can become life-threatening.
Hantavirus is more dangerous than normal flu. In some places, up to 14% of infected people may die, and in some cases, the number can go above 40%. Normal flu rarely causes death like this.
This virus is found in many countries like China, Russia, South Korea, United States, Finland, and France.
It spreads when people breathe in air that has tiny particles from rat waste. It can also spread through bites or direct contact. People who work in farms, forests, or old buildings have higher risk.
Experts say it usually does not spread from person to person. Only one type, called Andes virus, can spread this way, and that too needs very close contact. It is still not clear how the cruise ship infection happened.
There is no special medicine for this virus yet. Doctors treat the symptoms and give support like oxygen in serious cases. Early treatment helps patients recover better.
Older people, weak immune system patients, and those already sick are at higher risk. People working in risky areas should be more careful.
