There will hardly be anyone today who hasn’t heard of viruses. We have been studying for years that viruses are microscopic infectious agents that require a host cell to replicate. Outside a host, they cannot multiply or carry out metabolic activity.
Recently, another virus that has been in the news is the Hantavirus. This is not a newly discovered virus species. Hantavirus is a zoonotic virus, usually transmitted through infected rodents, particularly via their urine, saliva, feces, or contaminated dust.
Although Hantavirus infections are relatively uncommon globally, they can be highly fatal. The case fatality rate ranges from less than 1–15% in Asia and Europe and can reach up to 50% in the Americas, depending on the strain involved. Worldwide, it is estimated that 10,000 to over 100,000 infections occur annually, with the largest burden seen in Asia and Europe.
Hantavirus mainly causes two serious diseases:
• HFRS (Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome)
• HPS/HCPS (Hantavirus Pulmonary/Cardiopulmonary Syndrome)
In comparison, COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory system and, in severe cases, may lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). While Hantavirus can have a much higher mortality rate than COVID-19, COVID-19 became a global pandemic because of its extremely rapid human-to-human transmission.
This highlights an important concept in infectious diseases:
A virus does not become dangerous only because it is deadly. Its ability to spread efficiently between humans often determines its true global impact.
The work of epidemiologist really excites me , its true that they are known as Disease Detectives. Really working on what led to spread of any infection , or priorly anticipating spread of any infection, understanding the population and pattern , developing strategies to prevent or tackle any outbreak and many more.
Through my post I really want to appreciate the work of leading experts and agencies monitoring the hantavirus, particularly the Andes strain outbreak on a cruise ship, include Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Dutch epidemiologist Dr. Chantal Rovers, who clarified the low risk of pandemic transmission.
What are some of examples of viruses, where transmission made a virus more dangerous than its severity? and what makes a virus more dangerous if it can spread quickly?
MBH/PS