What is Hantavirus andis It as deadly as coronavirus?

What is Hantavirus and how does it spread

Even When the world is trying to find a cure for the dreaded coronavirus pandemic.March 22 report in Global times said that a man from china's Yunnan province died from Hantavirus While on a bus to the shandong provice 

All the fellow passenger on the bus have been tested for the virus 

Apart from him, another 32 people also tested positive, as per a Global Times report.

What is Hantavirus?
The Centre for Disease Control says that the virus is spread mainly from rodents. It goes on to say that infection with any of the hantavirus can cause hantavirus disease in people.

"Hantaviruses in the Americas are known as “New World” hantaviruses and may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Other hantaviruses, known as “Old World” hantaviruses, are found mostly in Europe and Asia and may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)," the CDC website said.

The hantavirus case comes at a time when the total count of those infected by novel coronavirus globally is nearing the 400,000 mark and scientists are yet to find a cure for it. The global death toll has crossed the 16,500 mark.

So what exactly is the Hantavirus and is it as deadly as coronavirus?

No. Hantaviruses are not new and have been around for a while. For one, it is transmitted to people when they breathe in infected rodents' droppings, urine or saliva.

The US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) states that the Hantavirus is a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents.

The virus is inhaled and reaches the lungs where it wreaks havoc. It begins to invade tiny blood vessels called capillaries, eventually causing them to leak. The lungs then flood with fluid, which can trigger any of the respiratory problems associated with hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Where the HantaVirus Found? 

Also, the disease is not native or restricted to China. There have been outbreaks in both north and south America and Korea, as per the CDC.

Notably, the North American outbreak strain was not contagious too other people, while the South American one was. Which means various strains of the Hantavirus exists.

According to the Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome advances through two distinct stages -- the first is characterised by flu-like symptoms such as fever and chills, headaches and muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain. In this early stage, Hantavirus is difficult to distinguish from influenza, pneumonia or other viral conditions.

But after four to 10 days, more serious signs and symptoms such as a cough that produces secretions, shortness of breath, fluid accumulation within the lungs, low blood pressure, and reduced heart efficiency.

The Mayo Clinic blog further states that treatment for Hantavirus is limited but early prognosis and hospitalization improves chances.

The best method would be prevention, tackling of rodents problem, or wearing respirators.

In a nutshell, while the symptoms of the hantavirus are almost similar to that of coronavirus, it is essentially transmitted from rodents to humans and there is little evidence to prove it is transmitted by humans to humans like coronavirus.