Authority warning of nationwide rising hantavirus infections

Infections are increasing dramatically - warning of the spread of hantavirus
Throughout Germany, there has been a marked increase in hantavirus infections this year, with the states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria in particular being affected. In Baden-Württemberg, the authorities have already counted 689 infections with the dangerous pathogen since the beginning of the year, reports DAK-Gesundheit and urges increased hygiene.

In Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, infections with hantavirus have increased tenfold compared with the previous year. Across Germany, the number of infections increased from 282 in 2016 to 1,428 previously reported infections per year, reports DAK Health, citing the figures of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). Only from the Saarland and from Saxony-Anhalt in 2017 no hantavirus infections were reported.

The Rötelmaus applies from main carrier of the Hantavirus in Germany. With their proliferation, therefore, the number of infections is also increasing, as is currently the case in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. (Image: Bernd Wolter / fotolia.com)

Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria particularly hard hit
While in most of the federal states an increase in the number of cases of infections occurred, Baden-Württemberg has already recorded more than 600 infections this year than in 2017. "Almost every second infection registered in Germany originates from the southwest," reports the DAK. Furthermore, Bavaria is badly affected, with case numbers rising from 28 in 2016 to currently 301 reported cases.

Transmission via mouse droppings
The Hantavirus is transmitted by excretions of infected animals, whereby in Central Europe mainly the reddish mouse, the fire mouse and the brown rat are considered as carriers of the exciters, reports the DAK. Through contact with mouse droppings, the viruses are absorbed by humans. Therefore, it is important to avoid contact with animal excretions and to keep any food or crockery outside the house, warns Siegfried Euerle, head of the state representation of DAK Health Baden-Württemberg. In addition, there is also the danger when gardening and when sweeping garden sheds to inhale the pathogens with the dust.

Prevention especially important
"Since there is currently no specific therapy for the treatment of the virus or a vaccine in Germany, preventive measures are the only way to protect yourself," stresses Siegfried Euerle. For this purpose, of course, the animals should also be made the access to living space impossible, so Euerle on. If the rodents are already in the house, it may just be a targeted fight with traps.

Complications of ten percent of the infected
A Hantavirus infection "is similar to flu with three to four days fever and head-abdominal and back pain," reports the DAK. Dangerous are the pathogens, because they attack the kidneys. "Even kidney failure is possible," stresses Siegfried Euerle. According to estimates by experts, it can be assumed that corresponding complications occur in around ten percent of the infected.

Also dust a risk
"The viruses are secreted by infected rodents through saliva, urine and feces and can remain infectious for several days, even in a dry state," said the RKI. Human transmission is by inhalation of virus-containing aerosols (e.g., fluidized dust), contact of the injured skin with contaminated materials (e.g., dust, soils), or bites. Also, a transmission by food is possible, which were contaminated with excretions of infected rodents.

As warnings for a Hantavirus infection the RKI calls the following symptoms:

• acute onset of illness with fever> 38.5 ° C
• Back pain and / or headache and / or abdominal pain
• Proteinuria and / or hematuria
• Serum creatinine increase
• thrombocytopenia
• Oligurie or subsequently polyuria

If more than one of the symptoms appears, the RKI should urgently confirm that there is a Hantavivurs infection.

For the first time, the hantavirus was isolated in 1977 and identified as the cause of an infectious disease, in the early 1950s, more than 3,000 soldiers were ill in the Korean War. The patients developed a severe haemorrhagic fever, which occurs only rarely in the virus types distributed in Germany. The name of the virus is derived from the Korean river Hantangan. (Fp)