Control Rodents Because They Might Transmit Hanta Virus

In the 1990s, a new form of an old disease showed up in the American southwest, around New Mexico. This new virus is a member of the bunyaviridae viruses from Korea, but unlike the Korean viruses, Hanta Virus is spread by rodents, not insects. In Korea, the virus produces hemorrhagic fever. It was given the name Hanta Virus because the hemorrhagic fever causing virus was found around the Hantan River in Korea. The Korean variety was discovered in the 1950s, but it wasn't until 1993 that Hanta Virus was found in the United States in the states surrounding New Mexico.

Since the 1990s, Hanta Virus has spread into other states, including California, Montana, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Idaho and a few cases have shown up in Oregon. Since it is a virus, there is no cure, just as the virus that causes the common cold can't be cured. Viruses reproduce in the body by invading cells and making the hosts RNA replicate the virus, instead of the cell's DNA. Once a person is infected with Hanta Virus, they will begin to show symptoms in a few weeks to a month. The first symptoms are flu-like; chills, fever, fatigue, headache and nausea. This may last for a week before getting worse and causing difficulty breathing and heart trouble. The next stage comes a few days later and affects the kidneys, which causes large amounts of urine to be flushed out of the body, creating dehydration. If the patient survives all of these stages, they stand a good chance of recovering. However, if they don't seek treatment soon enough, they could die from dehydration.