Argentina is a country that has cases of hantavirus every year

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The Mundo Sano Foundation, the National Institute of Human Viral Diseases (Inevh) and the National University of Río Cuarto (UNRC) studied -between 2003 and 2012- the spatial and temporal dynamics of po[CENSORED]tions of mouse colilargo, carrier of the Andes virus, agent cause of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in humans, with the aim of generating risk maps and provide knowledge that will make it possible to work on the prevention of this problem.

In the studies carried out, seasonal differences were observed, with a greater number of rodents in autumn and winter in shrubs, and during summer and autumn in the forest. Also, it was detected that reproductively active rodents are more predisposed to contract the disease than non-active rodents, and males are more prone to infection than females. An association was also demonstrated between the infection in the rodent and its weight: the heavier ones are more prone than the lighter ones.

Argentina is a country that has hantavirus cases every year, mainly in spring and summer, in four endemic regions: northwest (Salta and Jujuy); central area (Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos and Santa Fe); northeast (Misiones and Formosa) and Patagonian Andean forests (Chubut, Neuquén and Río Negro); being the mouse colilargo responsible for the cases in Chubut, the most common.

"The particular thing about the outbreak in Epuyén is the high number of cases in a short period of time," explained Marcelo Abril, biologist and executive director of Fundación Mundo Sano, who also participated in the study in Cholila.

Hantavirus infection is a zoonosis that involves wild rodents that are part of the native fauna of each endemic area. The virus remains in nature in rodents and is transmitted between them when they fight or during certain social behaviors.

Transmission to humans occurs by inhalation of the secretions of infected mice; exceptionally by direct contact (bite) of these rodents and on rare occasions, by person-to-person contact. "In our country circulate nine strains of the virus and all, except the Maciel and Pergamino genotypes, can cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), although a difference in mortality percentages between strains is observed," said Marcelo Abril.

recommendations

From the Mundo Sano Foundation, it is recommended that po[CENSORED]tions that live or visit endemic areas ventilate spaces that remained closed before they were occupied, clean the floors with water and bleach, do not sweep dry (since it generates dust from the ground and reach the airways), keep the patios of dwellings weeded and tidy, do not raise tents in areas that are not clean and immediately assist the doctor in case of symptoms similar to those of a cold.