Fourth case of hanta virus in Herrera

 A 51-year-old man living in the province of Herrera has been confirmed as the fourth case of hantavirus a disease transmitted by rodents.

The Ministry of Health (Minsa)  made the announcement on Tuesday, December 6.

The patient, a resident of the Villa Rosa community, El Pájaro township, Pesé district was diagnosed with cardiopulmonary syndrome due to hantavirus, and was transferred to the intensive care unit of the Joaquín Pablo Franco Sayas hospital in Las Tablas, Los Santos province, the Minsa detailed.

According to reports from the Department of Regional Epidemiology, a total of four cases of hantavirus have been registered in the province of Herrera, of which three patients developed cardiopulmonary syndrome and one patient developed hantavirus fever.

Hantavirus is an emerging zoonotic disease transmitted by rodents, including mice and rats. The disease is characterized by presenting symptoms of fever, myalgia, and gastrointestinal disorders, followed by a sudden onset of respiratory distress and hypotension, the Pan American Health Organization specifies.

The Minsa recommended that people keep their homes and surroundings clean and grains must be collected and sealed to prevent the rodent from having contact and leaving their feces and urine in the surroundings.