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Patagonia
seduces and delights travelers that visit in search of the last places
where nature can still be explored and observed like it was in the
beginning of time. These
days, however, certain time-honored practices could be hazardous to your
health. Foraging wild
berries while on a hike or sleeping under the stars may present a risk of
contracting Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, a disease that is frequently
fatal.
This
disease begins with symptoms similar to the flu, with muscle aches,
fever and lack of appetite, migraines, coughing and vomiting. After a
few days, serious respiratory difficulty develops. The patient suffers
from shortness of breath and often needs oxygen or even an
artificial respirator. The period of incubation for Hantavirus is
approximately 21 days, but it can vary significantly. It has been seen
in North America (the United States, Canada), in South America (Brazil,
Bolivia, Argentina) and there have also been cases in Europe (Germany,
Holland, Belgium, France).
In
Argentina, the first problems with Hantavirus in humans date from 1995.
By 1997, there were a total of 81 confirmed cases, with a fatality rate
of 55%. More recent Argentine cases prove fatal only 30% of the time. Six jurisdictions have reported cases, but Río Negro and Salta
provinces are most affected. Since then, Argentina has seen the
greatest number of cases in South America (about two hundred ninety).
In
July of 2002, Hanta appeared in the more urban areas surrounding Buenos Aires when
a 42-year veterinarian contracted the disease in the countryside, and
subsequently died.
"The mice in Buenos Aires are not carriers of
Hantavirus. Its
transmitters are usually the wild rodents out in the countryside," says
Doctor Alfredo Seijo, a specialist in this matter at Buenos Aires’ Muñiz
Hospital. "Altogether, in
the Muñiz Hospital there have been five cases, one of which was fatal."
 Although
not all disease sources have been identified, one of the biggest
culprits is the long-tailed mouse. This animal is about 4
inches long from nose to rump, but its tail measures about 5 inches. It has a grayish
back and white belly. Short, ochre-colored hairs
cover its ears, and its back legs are relatively long. It moves in great
strides, and is sometimes called “the jumping mouse”.
Long-tailed mice are found on the ground underneath trees and shrubs, as
well as in branches where they build their nests. They generally feed on fruit and
seeds. These little beasts mostly
reproduce in the spring, which is why their population is greater from
spring until autumn.
Although
long-tailed mice show no symptoms of Hantavirus, they eliminate copious
amounts of the virus in their urine, feces and saliva. When these
excretions dry, micro-particles are generated in aerosol form that
remain in suspension in the atmosphere and infect people upon
inhalation. The risk is greater in contaminated environments that have
remained closed or without ventilation for long periods. It is also
possible to be infected by this rodent’s bite or by direct
introduction of the virus into the eyes or small wounds in the skin.
Hantavirus is not thought to be contagious between people (although
there is some debate on this point).
Outbreaks
of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome are almost always associated with
proximity to rodents. Obviously, the best way to prevent infection is to
avoid contact with the long-tailed mouse and its excretions. Even so, the evidence doesn’t really justify locking yourself
away from the great outdoors, even in places where Hanta is most
prevalent. The virus is not
very resistant in the atmosphere, and it can be killed with common
household disinfectant. A
few basic precautions are in order, however:
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Avoid contact with rodents and their burrows and nests.
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Do not to occupy closed cabins where there is evidence of
rodents (nibbled materials, mouse turds). Always clean and disinfect
lodgings first.
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Do not sleep directly on the floor. Use a tarp or other barrier underneath sleeping bags.
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Do not sleep near suspected rodent dwellings.
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Always use closed footwear, long trousers and long-sleeved shirts when
walking in the countryside.
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Do not eat wild stems, leaves, grains or fruits.
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Use only prepared, boiled or chlorinated water for drinking, personal
hygiene and dish washing.
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