Mice transmit Hanta-Virus: experts expect this year a lot of infections
Dusty sheds, garages or forest huts: Where Rötelmäuse feel good, it can also lurk the Hanta-Virus. According to experts, could develop this year, especially a lot of people.
Dusty sheds, garages or cottages – there you can plug in several regions of Germany, with the so-called Hantavirus.
“2019 is quite clearly a breakout year,” said Mirko Faber, a scientist at the Robert Koch-Institute in Berlin (RKI). Since January, the Institute reported good 460 cases. Especially Faber are affected, according to
- The Osnabrück Area
- Münsterland
- The East Hesse
- The West Of Thuringia
- Lower Franconia
- The Area Of Stuttgart
- The Swabian Alb
- Bavarian forest
, Getty Images/opico/FOL In the selected areas, experts expect this year a lot of infections with the Hantavirus.
Infections were most recently in 2012, the most frequently
The current outbreak, but so far not with the strong Hanta-Virus 2012, comparable, Faber said. At the time, throughout the year, the previous record value of around 2800 infections were registered in the same period, more than 1100 cases. In other years, a year less and less people became ill nationwide, as of date within six months, in 2018, for example, only 235. Strong fluctuations from year to year during the Hanta Virus is common.
The disease fluctuate in numbers, therefore, from year to year, because the probability of a contagion with the density depends on the infected Rötelmäusen together. “Many people become infected if there are many infected Rötelmäuse,” said Faber. In particular, in Beech mast years, mouse populations get through the large amount of feed a boost.
The Hanta Virus is transmitted by animal-to-human
In Germany, the Inhalation of dust ruined the feces of Rötelmäusen (also woodland vole) is considered to be the main source of infection for Hantavirus. But also with the saliva or urine, the Virus is excreted. Can infect you about cleaning up or Sweeping of garages or sheds.
Among occupational groups with a certain risk about foresters, hunters, and construction workers, as Faber. But also in the leisure, there are risks: protective and BBQ huts in the forest, for example, are also popular with the mice, so that they could become infected.
Infection causes fever, vomiting and headache
In Germany, infections of the Hanta-Virus to ill-health, mostly with flu-like symptoms: high fever, head and limb pain, also Nausea or vomiting. The kidneys can be affected, up to acute renal failure. Only the symptoms can be treated, a vaccination there are. In other regions of the occurring types of the Virus can trigger severe diseases.
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