Hantavirus- an emerging zoonotic disease transmitted by rodents

Kolkata, Jan. 16 -- Hantavirus (HV) is an emerging zoonotic disease transmitted by rodents such as mice and rats.

It is characterized by symptoms of fever, myalgia, and gastrointestinal complaints, followed by sudden onset of respiratory distress and hypotension.

The agent responsible for the disease comes from the Hantavirus genus, from the Bunyaviridae family. It takes its name from the Hantaan river in South Korea, where it was originally discovered in 1978.

The most common clinical form of the disease in the region is Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) which can lead to death. Symptoms of HPS may develop up to 42 days -and in some cases up to 56 days- after exposure , making it difficult to identify the exact source of infection....