Published Date: 2012-04-09 21:49:32
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus update 2011 - Americas (12): Chile, USA
Archive Number: 20120409.1095116

HANTAVIRUS UPDATE 2012 - AMERICAS (12): CHILE, USA
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In this update:
[1] Chile (national, BioBio region)
[2] Chile (Maule region)
[3] Chile (Osorno, Puerto Montt)
[4] Chile (Puerto Montt, Los Lagos region)
[5] Chile (Nuble province, BioBio region)
[6] Chile (Santiago and Chillan, BioBio region)
[7] USA (Grant county, Washington state)

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[1] Chile (national, BioBio region)
Date: Sun 8 Apr 2012
Source: BioBio Chile [in Spanish, trans & summ. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.biobiochile.cl/2012/04/08/autoridades-insisten-en-llamado-a-tomar-medidas-preventivas-contra-el-virus-hanta.shtml


Statistics from the Institute of Public Health [indicate] that 37 cases of [a] hantavirus infection occurred nationally so far this season [2012], 11 of which resulted in death.

The BioBio province has not been a stranger to the fatal statistics, with 2 people [dead] this year [2012], one of the cases in the Tucapel community and the other in Mulchen. The health authority reiterated its call to the populace to consider preventive measures [against contracting the infection].

[Published by Erasmo Tauran; information from Luis Villegas]

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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
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[Although not specified, the hantavirus involved in this fatal case and the following ones is most likely Andes virus.

An image of the long-tailed pygmy rice rat (_Oligoryzomys longicaudatus_), the sigmodontine rodent host of Andes hantavirus, can be seen at http://www.bios.niu.edu/frayjorge/rod6.jpg).

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Chile can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/00Bj. - Mod.TY]

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[2] Chile (Maule region)
Date: Thu 5 Apr 2012
Source: EMOL [in Spanish, trans. & summ. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2012/04/05/534520/confirman-nueva-muerte-por-virus-hanta-victima-se-contagio-en-la-region-del-maule.html


A young man died after becoming infected with [a] hantavirus in the Maujle region, bringing to 11 the number of fatal victims due to the disease so far this year [2012]. The patient who lost his life was 19 years old and had acquired the virus [infection] in an area near Lake Colbun, according to the Institute of Public Health [ISP]. The area where the infection was acquired is the Mirador Las Vizcachas sector, according to Radio Cooperativo.

In the entire country, 37 hantavirus [infection] cases have been registered in 2012. This year [2012], the ISP put into action a system that includes the use of the ELISA test for rapid diagnosis of the disease through specialized laboratories distributed around the country.

Hantavirus enters the body via the respiratory route. It is present in the excrement of infected wild long-tailed mice [long-tailed pygmy rice rats, _Oligoryzomys longicaudatus_], so the main preventive measure is to avoid places that have remained closed and weedy areas that might be used by these rodents.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
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[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of the Maule region can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/0C3A. - Mod.TY]

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[3] Chile (Osorno, Puerto Montt)
Date: Wed 4 Apr 2012
Source: EMOL [in Spanish, trans. & summ. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2012/04/04/534253/isp-confirma-nuevos-casos-de-hantavirus-37-personas-contagiadas-en-el-pais.html


A 19-year-old man who is in the Linares Hospital has been added to the list of individuals confirmed infected by [a] hantavirus. This information was provided by the Institute of Public Health (ISP) and brings to 37 the number of people who have acquired the virus [infection] so far in 2012. [Note: this individual unfortunately died the following day, see the report above].

There are 2 more confirmed cases that include a 45-year-old man who is in the Hospital Base of Osorno and a 29-year-old man who is being attended to in the Hospital Base of Puerto Montt. These 2 cases were reported by the Universidad Austral de Valdivia Reference Laboratory, which is part of a network of clinical laboratories for hantavirus confirmation.

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Communicated by:
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[It is good to see this new diagnostic laboratory network working effectively.

A map of Chile showing the regions mentioned can be accessed at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/americas/txu-oclc-310606106-chile_adm09.jpg. - Mod.TY]

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[4] Chile (Puerto Montt, Los Lagos region)
Date: Wed 4 Apr 2012
Source: EMOL [in Spanish, trans. & summ. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2012/04/04/534279/fallece-en-puerto-montt-trabajador-de-29-anos-contagiado-con-virus-hanta.html


A 29-year-old worker from Puerto Montt has become the 6th person to die due to [a] hantavirus [infection]. The young man had been in the Hospital Base of the city since Sun 1 Apr 2012 at noon, according to reports from Radio BioBio.

The family of the worker indicated that the man began to feel ill last Tuesday [27 Mar 2012] and decided to go to the hospital on Sat 30 Mar 2012.

The hospital carried out the rapid test that confirmed the detection of the virus.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
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[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of Puerto Montt in the Los Lagos region can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/28Z0. - Mod.TY]

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[5] Chile (Nuble province, BioBio region)
Date: Wed 4 Apr 2012
Source: La Discusion [in Spanish, trans & summ. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.diarioladiscusion.cl/index.php/noticias/100-salud1651607246/10165-confirman-contagio-de-hanta-en-estudiante


After a student was admitted this past Friday [30 Mar 2012] to the Clinica Las Condes in Santiago with a preliminary diagnosis of hantavirus infection, yesterday [3 Apr 2012], the Institute of Public Health confirmed the result as positive, together with another 2 people in the capital.

As a result, the positive reports have increased to 4 [cases] in the Nuble province [BioBio region].

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
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[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of Nuble province in the BioBio region can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1HAM. - Mod.TY]

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[6] Chile (Santiago and Chillan, BioBio region)
Date: Tue 3 Apr 2012
Source: Cooperativa [in Spanish, trans. & summ. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.cooperativa.cl/isp-confirmo-dos-nuevos-casos-de-virus-hanta-en-el-pais/prontus_nots/2012-04-03/161144.html


The Institute of Public Health confirmed 2 new hantavirus infection cases in the country. The 1st of these is a 47-year-old woman in serious condition in the clinic of the Universidad Catolica de San Carlos de Apoquindo.

Also, there is a 27-year-old man who was hospitalized in the Clinica Las Amapolas in Chillan who also was diagnosed as a serious case.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap Alerts
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[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of Chillan in the BioBio region can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/28Z1. - Mod.TY]

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[7] USA (Grant county, Washington state)
Date: Fri 6 Apr 2012
Source: The Seattle Times [edited]
http://today.seattletimes.com/2012/04/hantavirus-kills-woman-in-grant-county/


Grant County health officials announced today [6 Apr 2012] that the recent death of a local woman has been confirmed to be from [a] hantavirus infection. The woman, who was in her 30s, was hospitalized and died on 28 Mar [2012], a news release said.

County health district investigators determined she likely was exposed to the virus in Grant County.

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is caused by a virus found in the urine, droppings, and saliva of infected rodents. Deer mice [_Peromyscus maniculatus_] are the common carriers of the virus in Washington. People become sick when they breathe in air particles stirred up from rodent droppings or nests. The greatest risk occurs in places like sheds or cabins that are enclosed and have poor air circulation.

Symptoms appear 1-6 weeks after exposure and include fever, muscle aches and fatigue. Symptoms also can include headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain.

Since the virus was recognized in 1993, Washington has had 44 reported cases and 15 deaths. The state sees about one to 5 cases per year.

Preventive measures include keeping homes, cabins, garages, sheds, workplaces or campsites clean and free from rodent droppings. Doors and windows should be left open for at least 30 minutes before cleaning to allow air to circulate in areas where deer mice might live. Gloves and masks should be worn to protect from exposure.

Health officials recommend against using vacuums, brooms, dusters or cleaning implements that might stir up dust and instead suggest wetting possibly contaminated areas with disinfectant or bleach solution and letting it soak for at least 10 minutes before cleaning.

Dead rodents, nesting materials and feces should be sprayed with disinfectant until soaked and then double-bagged along with cleaning materials.

Gloves should be disinfected before removal, and hands should be thoroughly washed.

[Byline: Cathy McLain]

--
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ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>

[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of Grant county in Washington state can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/0-6q. - Mod.TY]

See Also