The deadly and incurable Hantavirus, usually transmitted by rats, has infected at least 29 people in the remote Argentine town of Epuen.
The outbreak occurred back in October 2018, but the information hit the world media only the other day.
According to the Daily Mail, the infection occurred after its carrier (his name is not mentioned and the media does not indicate whether he was identified) appeared at a large party. Immediately after the party, six people developed Hantavirus symptoms, and by January 20, 2019, 29 people had it. 12 of them have already died at the moment.
Most of the victims are women. At the moment, there is a quarantine in the city and 85 people who could also have picked up the virus at a party or from those who were at the party are not recommended to leave their homes once again.
Hantavirus rarely infects people, but if the infection has already occurred, then, as a rule, in 50% of cases, people die quickly, since there is no cure for it. This usually starts as flu-like symptoms with cough, headaches and nausea, and lasts 4-10 days, during which time the lungs fill up with fluid and people who are sick develop severe breathing difficulties.
One of the survivors described his condition as if his chest was squeezed with a tight bandage, and then a pillow was put on his face. People die precisely because of breathing problems.
Infection with Hantavirus occurs after human contact with the saliva of a sick rodent or through droppings. The suspected carrier of the Hantavirus probably picked him up shortly before his visit to the party, since if he was already sick and feeling unwell, he most likely would not go to it.
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For the first time, doctors learned about Hantavirus in 1976 in South Korea, where the first human outbreak of the disease occurred in the area near the Gantana River. Further, individual cases were identified in Japan, China, Russia, some European countries, and then in the United States. Since 2013, they began to meet him in Argentina and the outbreak in Epuen was the largest.
Residents of Epuen who go to work now all wear medical masks and carefully monitor visitors for signs of the flu.