What is hantavirus?
Hantavirus is a viral infection spread by the urine and droppings of mice and rats. Hantavirus can cause life-threatening lung and kidney infections.
What causes hantavirus infection?
Hantavirus infects wild rodents throughout the world. There are different types of hantavirus in different parts of the world.
Depending on the type you have, the virus affects different organs.
Lungs: The type of hantavirus in the western United States and Central and South America usually causes a lung infection that causes a cough, trouble breathing, and fluid in your lungs.
Kidneys: The type of hantavirus in Korea and Europe usually causes a rash and belly pain and can stop your kidneys from working.
What are the symptoms of hantavirus?
How can doctors tell if I have hantavirus?
Doctors suspect hantavirus if you have symptoms and you’ve been around rodents and their droppings.
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To know for sure, they'll do blood tests
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If you have a cough or trouble breathing, they may do a chest x-ray and echocardiography (ultrasound of your heart)
How do doctors treat hantavirus?
Doctors will treat your symptoms.
If you have the type of hantavirus that affects your lungs, doctors will:
If you have the type of hantavirus that affects your kidneys, doctors will:
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Have you take an antiviral medicine that may help lessen your symptoms
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Sometimes, give you kidney dialysis (uses a machine to filter wastes from your blood because your kidneys aren’t able to)
