Hantavirus Andes Strain: Risks, Symptoms, and Prevention
What is Hantavirus, and what is the Andes strain? Hantavirus is a group of viruses transmitted to humans primarily through infected wild rodent droppings, urine, or saliva. In the Americas, infection can lead to a severe respiratory illness - Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). The Andes strain is a specific Hantavirus strain found in South America that can be transmitted from person to person through close, prolonged contact with an infected individual. Who is at risk of Hantavirus and how to prevent it? Individuals at the highest risk of acquiring Hantavirus are those who work/live in rodent-infested environments. This may include hikers, campers, farmers, pest control workers, construction workers, and individuals cleaning old sheds, cabins, and barns, which may be rodent-infested. The best way to reduce risk is to avoid rodent-infested environments whenever possible. To avoid rodent infestation, seal all possible entry points for rodents, remove food sources that may at...