The re-emergence of hantavirus on the global stage has sparked\nconcerns about the potential spread of a disease carried by rodents. In\nresponse, IPB University\u2019s Head of the Health Entomology Laboratory at\nthe Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences Faculty, Prof.\u00a0Upik\nKesumawati, urged the public to stay vigilant without panicking.\nHantavirus is a group of zoonotic viruses, primarily carried by rats. In\nIndonesia, the virus has been detected through various studies since the\n1980s.<\/p>\n
Prof.\u00a0Upik warned that sweeping or vacuuming dry rat droppings\ndirectly is extremely dangerous, as virus particles can become\naerosolised and inhaled. \u2018Do not sweep or vacuum nest material and dry\ndroppings directly because viral particles can become airborne and\ninhaled. First wet the area with a disinfectant solution,\u2019 Upik said, as\nquoted from IPB\u2019s website. After spraying and moistening with\ndisinfectant, the droppings may be cleaned safely to prevent the virus\nfrom becoming aerosolised in the air. In addition, transmission can\noccur via direct skin contact with rat droppings on wounds, and by\nconsuming food contaminated with the virus.<\/p>\n
Based on official guidelines from the Ministry of Health of the\nRepublic of Indonesia (Kemenkes RI), hantavirus infection can typically\nprogress to two clinical syndromes with relatively high fatality\nrates:<\/p>\n
Early symptoms resemble influenza-like illness, including fever,\nmuscle pains (especially in the thighs, back, and shoulders), malaise,\nheadache, and nausea\/vomiting. However, entering days 4 to 10, the\ncondition of patients with HPS can rapidly deteriorate, characterised by\ncoughing, acute shortness of breath, and a drastic drop in blood oxygen\nlevels.<\/p>\n
This variant is of particular concern because it has a rare ability\nto transmit between humans, though cases remain very rare.<\/p>\n
As a mitigation step in home environments, the public is advised to:\n(Note: guidelines recommend population control of rodents and\ndisciplined cleanliness to break the transmission chain.)<\/p>\n
In home environments, population control of rodents and maintaining\nsanitary environmental cleanliness remain frontline measures to cut off\nthe hantavirus transmission chain in communities.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/safe-ways-to-clean-rat-droppings-to-prevent-hantavirus-transmission-1779546388", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }