A new study has led to further worries regarding the long-term survival of hantavirus in the human body, showing that the hantavirus can stay in semen for as long as six years after infection. Read on to know more.
Can Hantavirus Stay In The Human Body For Years?
As per a report by News X, the results suggest a chance of transmission through sexual contact long after a person feels better, researchers stated. The researchers at the Swiss government research institute Spiez Laboratory, which studies risks from biological, chemical and nuclear weapons, issued the study in the journal Viruses. Health professionals have suggested the review of health guidelines for male survivors, as is currently done for other diseases.
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The study concentrated on a 55-year-old Swiss who caught hantavirus from the Andes strain. Scientists identified that even though the virus had completely disappeared from his blood, urine and respiratory system, fragments of viral genetic material were still visible in his semen almost 71 months later. The researchers concluded that the hantavirus discovery adds to the proof that survivors of the disease should be tracked closely and that precautionary guidelines to minimise potential transmission of the disease should be developed.
What Causes Hantavirus?
As per reports, the situation has also been identified because some hantavirus infections are now being tracked by authorities, related to the MV Hondius cruise ship and also to other new infections that are being recorded across Britain. Research into how hantavirus spreads is still ongoing, and experts say the advice could shift later once more information becomes available.
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The scientists add that their findings help expand the collection of evidence suggesting some infectious diseases can stay inactive in humans for longer periods than earlier assumptions implied, which raises questions about how to watch for them and how to plan or prepare for future disease outbreaks.
What are your thoughts about this?
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
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What are the symptoms of the hantavirus?
Hantavirus symptoms begin 1 to 8 weeks after exposure and progress rapidly with flu like symptoms.
Can a human survive hantavirus?
Yes, you can survive hantavirus.
Where is hantavirus found?
Hantavirus is found globally, but specific strains are tied to distinct geographic regions and specific wild rodent carriers.