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When it was revealed earlier this year Gene Hackman marry, Betsy Arakawa , died of Hantavirus, many Americans had never heard of the disease - and for a good reason. Between 1993, when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began to follow the Hantavirus in the United States and 2022, there was only 864 cases reported , most of which have occurred in Western states.

However, last summer, the Arizona Health Services Department has issued a warning After the state, seven confirmed cases of Hantavirus, causing three deaths. This year, a Grand Canyon concessions employee Contracted the virus in June (the first case of the national park in almost a decade), and the Nevada also confirmed two cases . And although these figures may seem small, the researchers fear that the Hantavirus has a "pandemic potential".

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What is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus affects humans who have had contact with urine, excrement or saliva of infected but asymptomatic rodents, especially mice and rats. "It can also spread with a bite or a stripe by a rodent, but it is rare," said the CDC .

In the United States, most cases come from deer mouse and can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). This is what finally killed Arakawa.

According to Mayo clinic , HPS symptoms generally develop within 2 to 3 weeks after contact with a rodent. They include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Chills
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and / or abdominal pain

"As the disease progresses, it can cause damaged pulmonary tissues, an accumulation of liquid in the lungs and serious problems of pulmonary and heart function," notes Mayo Clinic. Symptoms of advanced virus include:

• Cough
• Difficulty breathing
• Low blood pressure
• Irregular heart rate

The CDC says that 38% of those that develop HPS respiratory symptoms can die from the disease. Hantavirus can be particularly dangerous because its symptoms often imitate Covid or flu.

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Why are experts concerned about a potential Hantavirus pandemic?

Researchers from Virginia Tech recently published a report in the journal Ecosphere , in which they used the data of the National Science Foundation to assess the Hantavirus models across North America by studying rodent hosts.

According to a press release , the researchers identified three hot -ups of Hantavirus - Virginia, Colorado and Texas. They also identified 15 species of rodents who carry the virus, including six which were previously unknown. This is notable because it means that additional regions that house these other rodents could also become hotvirus hot spots.

"This project is appropriate because the Hantavirus is considered an emerging disease of the pandemic potential with symptoms that resemble severe infections of COVID-19," said the study co-author Paanwaris Paansri , doctoral student in the Department of Pisces and Wildlife Conservation.

"This is expanding our understanding of the basic biology of the virus and shows that the virus is more adaptable than it was believed before," he added. "This has direct implications for surveillance strategies and risk assessments and can help explain certain cases of hantavirus in humans where the main reservoir is absent or rare."

In addition, the team noted that climate change leads to an increase in rodent activity, because warmer winters and more precipitation allow more welcoming environments.

In addition, dry conditions "can facilitate the generation of contaminated dust containing particles from rodent and saliva, increasing the risk of human transmission," the press release said.

However, the new positive is that the Hantavirus has never spread from person to North America. "Transmission from person to the virus has only been recorded with a virus strain found in South America called the Andes virus," said Mayo Clinic.

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How you can stay safe from Hantavirus:

It is important to note that the most common form of transmission of the Hantavirus is simply to inhale viruses, "when they become in the air from excrement of disturbed rodents or nesting materials," warns Mayo Clinic. Therefore, limiting your contact with or near rodents is the best way to prevent infection.

The other recommendations of the Mayo clinic are:

• Seal all holes or cracks in fences or construction foundations where rodents can enter
• Erase potential nesting materials such as brush, grass and wood batteries
• Keep food, including pet food, in rodent test containers and make sure that compost trash cans and trash cans are tightly sealed. Also avoid bird feeders in areas subject to rodents.
• Do you have buildings or unused rooms before entering
• Wear a N95 mask and rubber or plastic gloves when cleaning the areas where rodents may have been
• If you meet a nest, excrement or a dead rodent, spray it with a solution of disinfectant, alcohol or bleach and bleached
• If you have a rodent problem, define traps or call a professional

"Anyone who has been in contact with rodents, nests or excrement and which then develops symptoms compatible with Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome should see a health care provider immediately", " Melissa Bullock , Told the medical epidemiologist in the state of Nevada, told Fox 5 Vegas.