How deadly is the hanta virus in China?

A case of hanta virus infection has been reported in China amid the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been attracting the attention of netizens.

An immigrant worker from Lincang, Yunnan, China died on March 23 while passing Ninh Son, Shanxi province on his way home from work. He tested positive for hanta virus and negative for Covid-19.

There have been no previously reported cases of hanta virus infection and an investigation has been conducted to look into the incident, Xinhua news agency reported.

Picture 1 of How deadly is the hanta virus in China?
Hanta virus can originate from infected mice.

The city quickly followed the developments, a special team was dispatched to Ninh Son district to deal with the situation.

A Ninh Son circular said the migrant worker Tian was an employee of a seafood food company in Shandong province. He found it difficult to pass through Ninh Son and passed away after all treatments failed.

Samples of two more patients who had a fever and others with Tian were sent for testing.

Patients infected with hanta virus have symptoms such as fever, bleeding and kidney damage - Chinese media reported when quoted from the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The incubation period of hanta virus is usually 7 days to 2 weeks, in rare cases it can be incubated for 4 days or up to 2 months. Early symptoms include exhaustion, vomiting and red cheeks.

Humans can get the hanta virus from infected mice from a rural environment or a pet indoor pet environment. Humans can also become infected from aerosols with rat droppings or urine or through contact with the eyes, nose or mouth. An infected rodent bite can cause an infection in humans.

According to the media, no human-to-human transmission has been detected.

In China, the hanta virus vaccine has been available for nearly 20 years and vaccination is considered the most effective way to prevent hanta virus infection. Immunological studies show that the protection rate of this vaccine is 92% after 6 years from baseline immunity. This shows that most people do not need a second dose of hanta anti-virus vaccine, according to the media.

Since 2008, China has mandated vaccination against hanta virus in high-risk areas and groups.