So far, only one of those people has confirmed hantavirus: a person from Britain who is being treated in Johannesburg, South Africa. The five others are suspected cases. The two crew members who fell ill experienced difficulty breathing.
Here's what to know about hantavirus and the suspected cruise-ship outbreak.
Hantavirus is a virus spread mostly by the urine, droppings, or saliva of rodents like rats or mice, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). There are several viruses belonging to the family Hantaviridae, and each virus tends to be associated with a specific rodent in which it can survive without causing illness in the animal.
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Is hantavirus contagious?
What are the symptoms of hantavirus?
Some may also develop kidney problems a week or two after getting exposed. These can start with fever, nausea, and back or abdominal pain and eventually lead to low blood pressure and internal bleeding as the kidneys start to fail.
There is a test to detect the virus, but it’s not as accurate in the first 72 hours after exposure. If people suspect they are infected, doctors recommend getting a second test 72 hours after symptoms start.
“There is no standard antiviral treatment for this group of viruses,” says Adalja. The CDC recommends rest, getting plenty of fluids, and medications to lower fever. Adalja says supplemental oxygen can help to alleviate more severe respiratory symptoms.
Researchers are working on treatments, including antibodies and vaccine, that have been effective in limiting or even preventing disease in animals, but lack of funding and interest from the pharmaceutical industry is preventing them from being tested in people, Chandran says. "We have things that work in animal models. The real hurdle is money, not the science or medicine."
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