Hanta Pulmonary Syndrome :: essays research papers

Hanta Pulmonary SyndromeThe Hanta Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a disorder that has emerged in North America only recently. Its source is a virus carried by gnawers, particularly the deer mouse, and transmitted by direct clear up with their droppings. Symptoms appear within the one to six weeks of initial exposure, and initially acknowledge muscle aches, fever, and other flu-like symptoms. After a while, the victim may feel shortness of breath and coughing resulting from decreased circulation in the lungs and a take down white blood cell count coupled with opportunistic infections. At this stage if they are not brought to a hospital soon they permit the risk of dying within the next twenty-four hours. This infirmity, although not new, has go through a large re-emergence in the southwestern United States and Mexico due to the desiccate climates in those areas. Cases have been spread all over the western U.S. with raze a few in the east, but nearly half of the cases to go ou t have been in the Four Corners area. In a dry area, the illness&8217s incubation is somewhat longer, making the chances of promise it somewhat higher. In places such as woodpiles and sheds where there is little air circulation to move shoot the virus, it can linger for a sizeable duration of time. The best system of fighting the hanta virus is prevention. By controlling the rodent population and preventing them from move into houses and sheds, the risk of infection can be lowered. Furthermore, educating those in high-risk areas of the signs of the disease and what to do about them significantly lowers the likelihood of death. The virus cannot spread from clement to human even during its peak state, but since exposed persons may not show symptoms for some weeks the likelihood of other people becoming septic by the same source is considerable. For this reason it is important that those living in areas where it is or may be present know how to avoid contracting it. This include s allowing sheds and other closed areas to ventilate well before entering them, checking for signs of rodent infestations, and minimizing factors that attract rodents.