Chile marks 30 years since first Hantavirus diagnosis

Health authorities and professionals in Chile are holding a national conference to commemorate 30 years since the first Hantavirus case was recorded in the country. The first case was diagnosed in October 1995 in Cochamó, Los Lagos Region, and another significant early case occurred in the Aysén Region in 1996.

In the Ñuble Region, health officials reported 7 cases and 4 deaths this year, representing a lethality rate of 57.14%. Authorities are emphasizing risk communication, particularly for individuals living in or visiting rural areas where the long-tailed mouse, a carrier of the virus, resides.

Symptoms to monitor include intense muscle pain, headache, fever above 38 °C, and gastrointestinal issues. Experts note that the Andes strain, which allows for human-to-human transmission, was discovered in the region. Health officials urge patients to disclose any recent contact with wild habitats to medical staff to ensure timely diagnosis and improve survival rates.