Hanta+Virus

=Hantavirus=

__Description of virus that causes the disease.__
Belongs to bunyaviridae family Three single strand RNA segments 100-270 nm in diameter Has distinctive spikes, surrouded by 5 nm lipid layer micrograph of hantavirus
 * strands are classified as small, medium and large
 * L strand is 6500-6550 nucleotides long
 * M strand is about 3600 nucleotides long
 * S strand is about 1700 nucleotides long

__Viral Specificity:__
It affects the heart and lungs It goes through the lytic cycle Endothelial cells and macrophages in the lungs get infected They replicate in the host cells cytoplasm Specific to humans, other animals-besides rodents- are not known to carry the virus

__Symptoms and progression of the disease:__
Incubation period lasts 2-4 weeks

Five phases:

//Febrile phase (3-7 days)://
 * fever of up to 104,
 * chills,
 * sweaty palms,
 * diarrhea,
 * malaise,
 * headahes,
 * nausea,
 * abdominal and back pain,
 * respiratory problems,
 * gastro-intestinal problems

//Hypotensive phase (2 days)://
 * blood platelet levels drop,
 * symptoms may lead to tachycardia and hypoxemia (decreased amount of oxygen in blood)

//Oliguric phase (3-7 days)://
 * renal failure,
 * proteinuria.

//Diuretic phase (couples days - couple weeks)://
 * diuresis of 3L-6L lost per day.

//Convalescent phase://
 * this is the recovery stage were symptoms start improving.

__Common Methods of Transmission:__
Transmitted by infected rodents through urine, droppings, and saliva Inhalation of aerosolized virus Person to person transmission does not occur a mouse carrying the hantavirus

__Treatment and Prevention:__
//Prevention//
 * extermination of rodents in houses
 * avoid exposure to rodent feces

//Treatment//
 * ribavin, an anti-viral drug that may help
 * early hospitolization is the best treatment, the patient will be monitered carefully and be given life sustaining fluids and medications
 * no vaccines available

__Miscellaneous:__
First recognized by Dr. Lee Ho Wang, of South Korea, during the Korean War New version of virus was identified by Terry Yates, a professor at University of New Mexico

__Resources accessed:__
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