Taiwan health officials are reporting the first case of hantavirus hemorrhagic fever, or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) of the year in a 76-year-old woman from Lingya District, Kaohsiung City in southern Taiwan.
According to the Taiwan CDC, on February 20, 2016, she sought medical attention and was hospitalized after developing symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. After the hospital reported the patient as a suspected case to the health authority, infection with hantavirus hemorrhagic fever was confirmed on Mar. 5.
The case has fully recovered and been discharged from the hospital after administering appropriate treatment. As of now, none of the family members residing in the same household with the case has developed suspected symptoms.
Taiwan has reported 17 cases of hantavirus hemorrhagic fever since 2001.
Hantavirus hemorrhagic fever is a zoonosis caused by hantaviruses. Rodents are the natural reservoir for hantaviruses and the virus is transmitted from infected rodents to humans by inhalation of aerosolized particles from rodent excreta or a bite from infected rodents. The incubation period ranges from a couple of days to two months. The virus does not spread between humans. Symptoms usually include fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal pain, lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, varying degrees of hemorrhagic manifestations, and kidney involvement.
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