The Hanta Virus Essay Research Paper The

The Hanta Virus Essay, Research Paper

The Hanta Virus

The hanta virus is not a new foe to humanity. This mysterious and sometimes fatal disease has plagued humanity for over 1000 years. This virus, most likely originating in China over 1000 years ago, is transmitted by human contact with mice. Only relatively recently has the hanta virus captured the attention of the United States. Although the hanta virus has been known for such a long time, there is little known about the virus. In the United States most cases are found in the southwestern part of the country, although cases have been reported from all four corners of the country. Recently, there have been successful tests done on prospective vaccines for the hanta virus. Despite this, strains of the hanta virus kill many people a year for lack of an effective medicine or vaccine (www.pharminfo.com).

The hanta virus can be found in the North America, South America, Europe and Asia. In North America, most cases are found in the United States (www.pharminfo.com). Most of the cases of hanta virus in the United States occur in the “Four Corners” region. This is a reference to the area in which Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado meet. As of March 17, 1997, there were 26 states that had confirmed cases of the hanta virus (www.bepestfree.com). In South America, cases can be found in Argentina (www.latinolink.com). The European cases mostly originated in Scandinavia, western Europe and the Balkan mountains. The strain of the hanta virus found here is comparatively mild symptoms. In Asia, the hanta virus is primarily found in China, Korea and the eastern part of the former Soviet Union. The symptoms of this strain of the hanta virus are more severe (www.pharminfo.com). There are, as of March 1997, four different strains of the hanta virus that have been identified (www.bepestfree.com).

The hanta virus is usually transmitted by a species of mice commonly known as deer mice, or Peromyscus maniculatis. The mice are described as having “brownish-gray fur, a white stomach and disproportionately large ears” (www.slac.stanford.edu). An infected mouse can spread the hanta virus if a human comes in contact with its urine, feces, saliva or dead body. Inhalation of the dust or tiny particles that spread into the air when any of the above are touched or moved are what spread the virus (www.slac.stanford.edu). The virus is most active and likely to cause infection in temperatures between 45oF and 72oF (www.bepestfree.com). There can be no human to human transmission of this virus, therefore it is not spread by people but only by deer mice (www.slac.stanford.edu). Most infections of the hanta virus resulted from contact with mice or their droppings in homes while cleaning (Ince).

The first symptoms of the hanta virus are often characterized as flu-like. This includes a fever, coughing and muscle fatigue (www.pharminfo.com). Other beginning symptoms may also include chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach pain (www.bepestfree.com). Untreated or severe cases can lead to fluid in the lungs, causing respiratory failure and ultimately, death (www.nmus.edu). Not typically reported, the hanta virus can also cause kidney failure, again with the possibility of leading to death (www.latinolink.com). As of March 17, 1997, there were 158 confirmed cases of the hanta virus in the United States (www.bepestfree.com). As of July 1996 there were 133 cases of the hanta virus confirmed in the United States, and approximately half of these cases lead to death (www.nmsu.edu).

There are several steps that can be taken to reduce the risk contracting the hanta virus. One highly recommended measure is to spray mouse feces, dead mice or areas inhabited by mice with a water and bleach solution (5:1). After this, all work done around the area, such as cleaning, should be done while wearing rubber gloves and a dust mask. All contamination by mice should be removed from the area (www.slac.stanford.edu). It is good measure to thoroughly air out any closed buildings before entering them, so that the infectious particles have somewhat dissipated (www.bepestfree.com). As it is always stated, never move dead mice or droppings with a vacuum cleaner or a broom, as this will send the infectious particles into the air to be inhaled (www.slac.stanford.edu).

As of June 1997, there was at least one program dedicated to discovering more about the deer mouse and its connections to humans and the hanta virus. The Montana State University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are both funding a project known as “Mouse in the House”. Since mice must come into close contact with humans for the hanta virus to be spread, studies are being done on the mice that live near humans, not in fields. Biology professor Rick Douglass and microbiologist Clifford W. Bond have worked on the program since it began in 1994. Douglass commented that though many people would think that mice that live in homes have been thoroughly studied and understood, this is a misconception. The information that is known about mice that live in homes usually does not deal with deer mice, the prime vectors of the hanta virus. Don White Jr., a research professor, leads the necessary trapping and cataloging of the deer mice surrounding the buildings of two chosen ranches in Montana. These mice have blood samples taken from them, which are sent to a l