Infections with hantavirus health hazard from the home garage

Expert Interview: How to Prevent Dangerous Hantavirus Infections

The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recently reported that the number of hantavirus infections in 2017 was particularly high. An infection can be fatal in the worst case. An expert explains in an interview what effects the virus has and how it can be protected.

More and more hantavirus infections

Infections with hantaviruses are on the rise in Germany - also due to climate change. Last year, more than 1,700 reported cases were reported to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). An interview with the head of the Institute of Molecular Virology and site manager of the National Research Platform for Zoonoses, Prof. Stephan Ludwig, was published on the website of the University Hospital Münster, in which the expert explains important facts about the subject.

Last year, the number of hanatvirus infections in Germany was particularly high. An expert explains what the virus does and how it can be protected. (Image: alexlmx / fotolia.com)

Flu-like symptoms

The hantavirus types that occur in this country usually cause illnesses with influenza-like symptoms such as fever, headache and abdominal pain.

In addition, it can also lead to a drop in blood pressure.

There are also more serious illnesses possible: "Hantavirus infections in Central Europe can cause kidney dysfunction until acute renal failure," said the RKI on its website.

But for most people who become infected with the virus, there are no or only nonspecific symptoms.

Low mortality

Despite the danger posed by the virus, the pathogen is not necessarily known to everyone.

As Prof. Ludwig explains, hantavirus occurs worldwide. In Central Europe, there are basically two tribes, one coming from Finland and another from the Balkans.

According to the expert, the local Hanta species are not as life-threatening as other hantaviruses, for example in Southeast Asia or the US.

"We have a mortality of about one percent here. In Southeast Asia and the US, the tribes there cause a mortality of up to thirty percent, although it has to be said that the number of unreported cases is perhaps even higher, "says Prof. Ludwig.

Infected red chickens do not become ill themselves

Hantaviruses have a host in the animal kingdom - in Central Europe these are the red chickens. Infected animals carry the virus for a lifetime but do not become ill themselves. But they excrete the pathogen in particular with the feces.

"The classic of the infection in our area is that you get aerosolized through the air via the dust of mouse feces - for example when mucking out the garage, the cellar or the equipment shed," explains Prof. Ludwig.

Therefore, it can meet everyone. Often, however, it also affects people who work in nature, such as in the forest, where there are many red chickens.

How to avoid infections

Respiratory masks can provide protection against infection. However, these should be particularly dense. The skilled person also points out that it can help if you moisten the working environment a little, so that the dust is not stirred up.

"If you have worked in such an environment and then suddenly very quickly gets very high fever, added head and limb pain, blurred vision or even problems with the kidneys, then you should definitely tell his doctor!" The expert admonishes.

According to Prof. Ludwig, even in the first few days doctors would probably confuse the symptoms with a flu, especially because of the severe headache and body aches.

He further explains that in addition to the source of infection due to mouse droppings, one can also become infected with mouse bites or eating foods that have been nibbled on by mice. Animal feed is also readily attacked by mice.

Effects of climate change

As the expert suggests, hantavirus is a fine example of how health, virology, ecology, and climate change are related.

"Because the risk of infection has obviously always something to do with the number of red chickens that are currently in the season. Rubella mice in particular feed on beechnuts, and we regularly have a phase every two or three years in which there are many, "said Prof. Ludwig.

The following year there are a lot more red chickens. Accordingly, the number of infections with the hantavirus in this season also increases.

Furthermore, the whole thing has something to do with climate change because the animals are no longer decimated by cold winters.

According to the expert, hantavirus infections are usually only treated for their symptoms, with painkillers or drugs to maintain kidney function. There is no vaccine or antiviral drugs. (Ad)