WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS?

Hantavirus is a rare virus usually spread to individuals who are exposed to rat droppings or urine in enclosed areas.

Symptoms of hantavirus include fever, productive cough (phlegm) and runny nose.

A rare strain called the Andes virus has recently made headlines due to recent but very limited human-to-human spread.

Unfortunately, the few (there are only been about 30 known hantavirus cases a year of in the US) who contract hantavirus have a 40% mortality rate.

IS THIS ANOTHER COVID-LIKE OUTBREAK?

Unlike COVID, this virus does not spread easily through community contacts.

Those at risk are close family contacts or caregivers who are in close contact and continuously exposed to someone with the virus.

Unlike COVID-the virus is only spread when people are already sick and not when people are unaware of potential impending illness.

As a result, doctors (including yours truly) and public health experts consider overall risk to the general public "very, very low."

THE GOOD NEWS !

Remember, The single most effective way to stay safe from viruses like the common cold virus or hantavirus is to WASH YOUR HANDS. This goes for the person who is sick and those around them. Most viruses, like the hantavirses are whimpy, and don't stand a chance when frequent and proper handwashing happens. This is your single best defense against contracting most viruses, even the common cold.