Taiwan reports 1st hantavirus case of the year

February 1, 2021

Asia, Headlines

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The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported the first case of Hantavirus syndrome (hemorrhagic fever) of 2021.

The case was a male in his 50s who lives in the south. He has no recent travel history and his main activity area is around his home where rodents have been infested.

The case began to show symptoms such as chills, fatigue, and night sweats one after another since January 8th, and went to the clinic for medical treatment. On January 15th, the symptoms did not improve, and symptoms of fever and headache appeared. They went to the hospital for medical treatment and were admitted to the hospital. Hantavirus was confirmed. The patients condition is stable and he has been discharged from the hospital and returned home to recuperate.

Taiwan reported 11 cases last year was higher than the cumulative number from 2016 to 2019 (4, 0, 1, 3 cases, respectively).

Health officials say the public should pay attention to the path that rats may invade in the environment. Kitchen waste or animal feed at home should be properly handled, and dead spots where rats may hide in the home should be removed; restaurants, restaurants, food stalls, markets, food factories and other businesses should pay attention to environmental hygiene and get rid of rodents in buildings, and relevant anti-rodent measures shall be taken to prevent epidemics.

The Department of Disease Control stated that Hantavirus syndrome is a zoonotic disease. Humans are at risk of infection if they breathe in or come into contact with dust and objects contaminated with mouse feces and urine, or are bitten by rodents carrying the virus. The incubation period of hantavirus hemorrhagic fever infection is several days to two months. The main symptoms are sudden and persistent fever, conjunctival congestion, weakness, back pain, headache, abdominal pain, anorexia, vomiting, etc., bleeding symptoms appear on about 3 to 6 days , Followed by proteinuria, hypotension or oliguria, some patients will experience shock or mild nephropathy, and may progress to acute renal failure, the condition can be improved after treatment.