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How Rodents Can Be Fatal for Humans?
Let’s talk Hantavirus and Leptospira
Months back, Betsy Arakawa, the wife of actor Gene Hackman, tragically died from a respiratory illness, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). The cause was traced to hantavirus transmitted by infected rodents.
Exposure to rodent urine, droppings, or saliva can cause this illness. Just touching surfaces or inhaling dust contaminated with the virus can expose someone.
The virus can enter the human system through the mouth, nose, eyes, or bruised skin.
Symptoms typically appear 1 to 8 weeks after exposure and start like the flu: Fever, chills, headache, dizziness, fatigue, muscle aches, chest tightness, and nausea. If left untreated, it can progress rapidly to shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and fluid buildup in the lungs (pulmonary edema)
The fatality rate is high (around 30 to 40 percent), though intensive medical care can save lives. Precautions that matter:
- Keep rodents out of your home
- Disinfect rodent droppings before sweeping, to prevent the aerosol inhalation
- Store food in rodent-proof containers
I relate to this story deeply. A few years ago, my mother nearly died from a mysterious pneumonia. Intensive care…
