Virus Outbreak: Rare Rat Virus Outbreak Alarms Midwest

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Recently, a rare rat virus that spreads hemorrhagic fever and kidney disease had been discovered when some residence from Wisconsin and Illinois had been infected. The so called rat virus had been named 'Seoul Virus' which was more common in Asia. This had brought commotion in the United States since the virus should not be found in the country. According to The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, people who were infected had a direct contact with the rats in the Illinois and Wisconsin's rat-breeding facilities.

As reported by Daily Mail, a person may get infected with the Seoul virus through direct contact with the organism. In addition, the carrier of this virus is a wild Norway rat which can be found worldwide. Luckily, it cannot be spread from person to another person or from a rat to another kind of animal. More often, a person may get infected if one had a contact with the infected rat's body fluids such as its blood, urine and saliva or from rat bites. Symptoms of this virus include fever, chills, nausea, aches and pains and irritated skin. Yet, it was reported that some people who were infected have not experience any forms of these symptoms.

Another report had claimed that the Seoul virus is highly similar to Hantavirus which is much worse. Breaking News had claimed that humans can be contaminated through inhaling dust which was mixed with fecal waste, urine and saliva of deer mice. Moreover, Hantavirus may also lead into a lung disease. Some of the infected patients had stated that in the early stage of the virus, they experience fatigue, fever and muscle aches, headaches, dizziness, chills nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Then after a week lungs starts to fill with fluid.

Right now, involve rat-breeding facilities are currently in hiatus in selling the selling the rats. In line with this, the cause of this virus is being closely inspected by the federal health officials as well as Wisconsin and Illinois.