Latest news with #Hantaviruses
The Independent
24-04-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Rats the ‘size of dachshunds' terrify Birmingham residents as bin strike prompts fear of surge in rodent-borne diseases
Rats the 'size of dachshunds' are terrifying residents in Birmingham as the seven-week long bin strike continues. Towering piles of black bags has not only resulted in a permeating stench, but huge rats scurrying through waste has prompted fears that it could result in a surge of rodent-borne diseases. Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Alex Burghart, told MPs: 'Rats the size of dachshunds are terrifying the local residents.' Referring to an article in the Daily Telegraph, he added Birmingham City Council has 'warned of a possible surge of rat borne diseases' to which the elderly, disabled people and babies are particularly susceptible. There are several rat borne diseases in the UK which can be spread through water contaminated with rat urine or from bites and scratches. One disease is Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection found in rodents, that can cause flu-like symptoms and in the most serious cases kidney failure. Hantaviruses are a group of viruses that can be carried and transmitted by rodents which can cause haemorrhagic fever, according to UKHSA. Although rare, rat-bite fever is also caused by a type of bacteria carried by seemingly healthy rats and mice. Spread through a bite from an infected rodent it can cause fever, muscle and joint pain, a rash and nausea within seven days. Another infection highlighted by UKHSA is LCMV, which can cause a type of meningitis. People can become infected after exposure to rodent urine, dropping or saliva. Criticising how the government has handled the bin strike Mr Burghart added: "The Government has had emergency powers throughout this crisis, not least Civil Contingencies Act." Cabinet Office minister Abena Oppong-Asare reassured that 'a lot of rubbish has been cleared'. But Mr Burghart added: 'There is still very much rubbish that is not cleared. And I hope that the Labour Party will perhaps undertake not to take any donations from Unite the Union while this crisis is ongoing." It comes as union officials claim the end of the bin strikes are in 'touching distance'. A meeting between officials from Unite and Birmingham City Council on Wednesday ended without an agreement, resulting in the independent public body and conciliation service Acas now being involved in negotiations. After the meeting, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said a deal 'could be in touching distance' if the council stops 'flip-flopping'.
Express Tribune
09-04-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Virus outbreak similar to the one that killed Gene Hackman's wife threatens Birmingham
Birmingham is facing a growing health threat as rat-infested piles of uncollected rubbish could lead to the spread of dangerous viruses, experts warn. Among the most concerning is the Seoul virus, a hantavirus carried by rats, which tragically claimed the life of Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, earlier this year. Experts say that the city's escalating rodent problem, exacerbated by a bin collector strike, poses serious risks to public health as warmer weather accelerates rat breeding. Professor Malcolm Bennett, a zoonotic disease expert from the University of Nottingham, stressed that the Seoul virus and other diseases like Weil's disease—known to cause severe symptoms such as eye-bleeding and organ failure—could spread rapidly in Birmingham. Both viruses are excreted by rats through their urine, and experts warn that the growing rodent population, left unchecked amid the strike, increases the likelihood of transmission to humans. "The longer the rubbish piles up, the more rats we'll have," said Professor Bennett. "This is a ticking health time bomb, particularly for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, young, and those with compromised immune systems." Hantaviruses, like the Seoul virus, cause severe symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, and potentially fatal kidney failure. Authorities have expressed concern, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting calling the situation a growing public health risk. Efforts to resolve the bin workers' strike have been described as "productive," though many issues remain unresolved. As the city grapples with rising rat numbers, doctors are on alert for symptoms of rat-borne diseases, and residents are urged to take precautions like practicing good hygiene and avoiding contact with contaminated surfaces. The situation, if not addressed, could have serious long-term health implications for Birmingham's residents.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rare virus behind death of Gene Hackman's wife kills 3 in California
Public health officials in California announced three people have died from hantavirus, the virus linked to the February death of Gene Hackman's wife Betsy Arakawa. The deaths occurred in the California town of Mammoth Lakes where 27 cases have been reported since 1993, according to Mono County public health officials. Though hantavirus cases tend to appear later in the spring and summer, all three deceased individuals got sick in February, officials said. 'The occurrence of three cases in a short period has me worried, especially this early in the year,' Tom Boo, a county public health officer, said in a statement. Hantaviruses can cause serious illnesses affecting the lungs and death. Rodents pass the virus through their droppings, urine and saliva. The infections do not spread from person to person. Symptoms of a potentially fatal disease caused by the virus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, can appear one to eight weeks after contact with an infected rodent, the CDC said. An autopsy on Arakawa, 65, showed evidence of hantavirus infection and findings "consistent with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome," Dr. Heather Jarrell, chief medical examiner at New Mexico's Office of the Medical Investigator said last month. A mask, a cane and a frantic dog: Inside the final hours of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa The disease is more prevalent in Southwest states such as New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and California, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Deer mice are found widely in the Eastern Sierra region and an increase in their population elevates the risk of exposure, Boo said. But health officials said none of the people who died in Mammoth Lakes did things that typically result in exposure, like cleaning out poorly ventilated areas with mouse droppings. Investigators found one person had mice in their homes and one vacuumed an area where mouse droppings were found, which could spread the virus through the air. While some evidence of mice was found in all of their workplaces, there were no major infestations. Boo urged residents to remain vigilant. "Many of us encounter deer mice in our daily lives and there is some risk," he wrote. "We should pay attention to the presence of mice and be careful around their waste." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virus linked to death of Gene Hackman's wife kills 3 in California
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hantavirus, cause of Gene Hackman's wife's death, kills three in California
Hantavirus, the disease that caused the death of Betsy Arakawa, actor Gene Hackman's wife, has claimed the lives of three people in California. After Arakawa, 65, was found dead along with Hackman, 95, on Feb. 26, authorities confirmed her cause of death as "hantavirus pulmonary syndrome" (HPS), while Hackman succumbed to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease along with advanced Alzheimer's disease. Now, Mono County Public Health has confirmed a total of three deaths due to hantavirus in Mammoth Lakes, a town in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. After Val Kilmer's Pneumonia Death, What To Know About The Respiratory Virus Hantaviruses include a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents that can cause severe respiratory or renal diseases in humans, according to Dr. Rhys Parry, a molecular virologist at the University of Queensland in Australia. Most hantaviruses that are found in North, Central and South America can cause HPS. The disease has a nearly 40% fatality rate in those who are infected. Read On The Fox News App All three of the recent California cases have been fatal, which Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County's public health officer described as "tragic and alarming." "We don't have a clear sense of where this young adult may have contracted the virus," Boo said in a press release. One person had "numerous mice" in their home, but no evidence of mice was found in the other two homes, the release stated. "The occurrence of three cases in a short period has me worried, especially this early in the year," Boo said. "We observed some mice in the workplace, which is not unusual for indoor spaces this time of year in Mammoth Lakes," he went on. "We haven't identified any other activities in the weeks before illness that would have increased this person's exposure to mice or their droppings." Hantavirus cases are usually seen in the area in late spring and summer, the public health officer stated. Seeing three cases this early in the year is "strikingly unusual." "We believe that deer mouse numbers are high this year in Mammoth (and probably elsewhere in the Eastern Sierra)," Boo wrote. "An increase in indoor mice elevates the risk of Hantavirus exposure. Therefore, it is crucial to take precautions." Measles Outbreak Continues: See Which States Have Reported Cases None of the infected individuals engaged in activities that would have exposed them to the virus, such as cleaning out poorly ventilated indoor areas or outbuildings with a lot of mouse waste, the official went on. "Instead, these folks may have been exposed during normal daily activities, either in the home or the workplace," he said. "Many of us encounter deer mice in our daily lives and there is some risk. We should pay attention to the presence of mice and be careful around their waste." "Hantaviruses typically spread when humans breathe in virus particles from disturbed rodent urine, droppings or nesting materials," Parry previously told Fox News Digital. The hantaviruses found in the U.S. are not known to spread between people, according to the CDC. Patient Dies From Rabies After Organ Transplant From Infected Donor Other mechanisms of spread, according to the CDC, include breathing in contaminated air when cleaning up after rodents, touching contaminated objects and then touching the nose or mouth, getting bitten or scratched by an infected rodent, and eating food contaminated with the virus. Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, agreed that hantavirus can spread via dust from rodents' saliva, urine and places they touch. IMAGE The most common type of rodent to carry it in the U.S. is the deer mouse, the doctor confirmed. Most hantavirus cases are seen in rural areas, where it is more likely for rodents to get into homes or barns, the CDC noted. Siegel added that it rarely affects humans "because only some of the rodents have it, and they don't all come into contact — but one-third to one-half of cases are fatal." Early symptoms of hantavirus include fever, muscle aches, fatigue and gastrointestinal issues that appear anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure, according to Parry. "These progress to serious respiratory symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs four to 10 days later," he said. Sin Nombre virus is the most common hantavirus in the United States, which causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome with a mortality rate of approximately 38%. "It typically becomes fatal when the lungs fill with fluid, leading to respiratory failure and insufficient oxygen reaching vital organs," Parry noted. There is no specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus, the expert said, although early intensive care with oxygen therapy and supportive measures is crucial. "Early intensive medical care is critical because patients who have sudden acute disease can rapidly become severely sick and die," the CDC states. "If a patient is experiencing full distress, it is less likely the treatment will be effective." Supportive care can include monitoring heart function, administering fluids and oxygen, and placing the patient on a ventilator as needed. Patients may also receive broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, fever reducers and pain relievers. "Although there is no cure for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, it is important to seek medical care when short of breath, because the patient may need support from a mechanical ventilator or extra-corporal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) machine to deliver enough oxygen to their body," Dr. Sonja Bartolome, an expert in pulmonology and critical care at UT Southwestern Medical Center, previously told Fox News Digital. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Even with medical care, 30% to 40% of people who develop hantavirus pulmonary syndrome will not survive." To prevent the virus from spreading, Mono County Public Health recommended sealing up gaps in the home to prevent mice from entering and storing food in rodent-proof containers. They also advised against vacuuming or sweeping rodent droppings, nests or urine, as that can stir up the virus into the air. Any contaminated areas should be sprayed with a disinfectant or a freshly made 10% bleach solution, they recommended, and any enclosed areas should be aired out for at least 30 minutes before activities. For more Health articles, visit People should wear gloves and an N-95 mask when cleaning contaminated areas. "Do not eat food that may have been contaminated by rodents, and always wash your hands thoroughly after any potential exposure," health officials article source: Hantavirus, cause of Gene Hackman's wife's death, kills three in California
Fox News
07-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Hantavirus, cause of Gene Hackman's wife's death, kills three in California
Hantavirus, the disease that caused the death of Betsy Arakawa, actor Gene Hackman's wife, has claimed the lives of three people in California. After Arakawa, 65, was found dead along with Hackman, 95, on Feb. 26, authorities confirmed her cause of death as "hantavirus pulmonary syndrome" (HPS), while Hackman succumbed to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease along with advanced Alzheimer's disease. Now, Mono County Public Health has confirmed a total of three deaths due to hantavirus in Mammoth Lakes, a town in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. Hantaviruses include a group of viruses primarily carried by rodents that can cause severe respiratory or renal diseases in humans, according to Dr. Rhys Parry, a molecular virologist at the University of Queensland in Australia. Most hantaviruses that are found in North, Central and South America can cause HPS. The disease has a nearly 40% fatality rate in those who are infected. All three of the recent California cases have been fatal, which Dr. Tom Boo, Mono County's public health officer described as "tragic and alarming." "We don't have a clear sense of where this young adult may have contracted the virus," Boo said in a press release. "An increase in indoor mice elevates the risk of hantavirus exposure." One person had "numerous mice" in their home, but no evidence of mice was found in the other two homes, the release stated. "The occurrence of three cases in a short period has me worried, especially this early in the year," Boo said. "We observed some mice in the workplace, which is not unusual for indoor spaces this time of year in Mammoth Lakes," he went on. "We haven't identified any other activities in the weeks before illness that would have increased this person's exposure to mice or their droppings." Hantavirus cases are usually seen in the area in late spring and summer, the public health officer stated. Seeing three cases this early in the year is "strikingly unusual." "We believe that deer mouse numbers are high this year in Mammoth (and probably elsewhere in the Eastern Sierra)," Boo wrote. "An increase in indoor mice elevates the risk of Hantavirus exposure. Therefore, it is crucial to take precautions." None of the infected individuals engaged in activities that would have exposed them to the virus, such as cleaning out poorly ventilated indoor areas or outbuildings with a lot of mouse waste, the official went on. "Instead, these folks may have been exposed during normal daily activities, either in the home or the workplace," he said. "Many of us encounter deer mice in our daily lives and there is some risk. We should pay attention to the presence of mice and be careful around their waste." "Hantaviruses typically spread when humans breathe in virus particles from disturbed rodent urine, droppings or nesting materials," Parry previously told Fox News Digital. The hantaviruses found in the U.S. are not known to spread between people, according to the CDC. Other mechanisms of spread, according to the CDC, include breathing in contaminated air when cleaning up after rodents, touching contaminated objects and then touching the nose or mouth, getting bitten or scratched by an infected rodent, and eating food contaminated with the virus. Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health and Fox News senior medical analyst, agreed that hantavirus can spread via dust from rodents' saliva, urine and places they touch. IMAGE The most common type of rodent to carry it in the U.S. is the deer mouse, the doctor confirmed. Most hantavirus cases are seen in rural areas, where it is more likely for rodents to get into homes or barns, the CDC noted. Siegel added that it rarely affects humans "because only some of the rodents have it, and they don't all come into contact — but one-third to one-half of cases are fatal." Early symptoms of hantavirus include fever, muscle aches, fatigue and gastrointestinal issues that appear anywhere from one to eight weeks after exposure, according to Parry. "These progress to serious respiratory symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath and fluid in the lungs four to 10 days later," he said. Sin Nombre virus is the most common hantavirus in the United States, which causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome with a mortality rate of approximately 38%. "It typically becomes fatal when the lungs fill with fluid, leading to respiratory failure and insufficient oxygen reaching vital organs," Parry noted. There is no specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus, the expert said, although early intensive care with oxygen therapy and supportive measures is crucial. "Early intensive medical care is critical because patients who have sudden acute disease can rapidly become severely sick and die," the CDC states. "If a patient is experiencing full distress, it is less likely the treatment will be effective." Supportive care can include monitoring heart function, administering fluids and oxygen, and placing the patient on a ventilator as needed. Patients may also receive broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, fever reducers and pain relievers. "Early intensive medical care is critical, because patients who have sudden acute disease can rapidly become severely sick and die." "Although there is no cure for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, it is important to seek medical care when short of breath, because the patient may need support from a mechanical ventilator or extra-corporal membrane oxygenator (ECMO) machine to deliver enough oxygen to their body," Dr. Sonja Bartolome, an expert in pulmonology and critical care at UT Southwestern Medical Center, previously told Fox News Digital. "Even with medical care, 30% to 40% of people who develop hantavirus pulmonary syndrome will not survive." To prevent the virus from spreading, Mono County Public Health recommended sealing up gaps in the home to prevent mice from entering and storing food in rodent-proof containers. They also advised against vacuuming or sweeping rodent droppings, nests or urine, as that can stir up the virus into the air. Any contaminated areas should be sprayed with a disinfectant or a freshly made 10% bleach solution, they recommended, and any enclosed areas should be aired out for at least 30 minutes before activities. For more Health articles, visit People should wear gloves and an N-95 mask when cleaning contaminated areas. "Do not eat food that may have been contaminated by rodents, and always wash your hands thoroughly after any potential exposure," health officials added.
