The Troubling Trend of Swedish Voles; An Emerging Viral Outbreak
In 2018 medical professionals, in Sweden identified nephropathia epidemica caused by the Puumala virus transmitted by bank voles. Forward to the day and instances of what has endearingly been referred to as "vole fever" are surfacing hundreds of miles away from the initial outbreak location. It's almost as if the virus is embarking on an excursion potentially making stops at all the destinations.
Vole Fever Spreads its Wings; No Travel Necessary
A recent case of "vole fever" was detected over 300 miles from its area. The individual had not traveled, indicating that the virus found its way to them. How thoughtful! Symptoms include fever, discomfort (a term for feeling awful) nosebleeds and impaired kidney function. While both patients made recoveries their situations prompted researchers from Uppsala University to delve into the matter.
Unpacking the Mystery Behind Vole Fever
Examinations conducted on bank voles in Scania county (the site where the virus was identified) revealed that nine, out of 74 voles carried hantavirus genes.
Hantaviruses are commonly found in rodents such, as mice, rats and voles. Can lead to two types of illnesses in humans; hemorrhagic fever with syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The worst case scenario for HFRS? It could be fatal. Quite unsettling.
Two Varieties, One Europe; A Confluence of Viruses
Adding to the intrigue researchers uncovered two variations of the virus infecting rodents; one to Sweden and another originating from either Finland or Russian Karelia situated miles apart. It's like a version of Eurovision but with less singing and more bleeding.
Emerging Geographic Risks; Insights from Experts
As outlined in the study published in Emerging Infectious Diseases journal; "The appearance of Puumala virus strains in a geographical region could have significant implications for human health." In terms? Be prepared for challenges.
Elin Economou Lundeberg, the individual behind the study remarked, "We were taken aback by the number of voles we captured that were carrying a hantavirus of causing illness in humans.. This was observed, over 500 km south of where the virus was known to exist." In essence the virus seems to be establishing itself in areas to many.
The United Kingdom Gears Up; Could This Be the Future Pandemic?
As we witness the unfolding drama of this situation one pressing query lingers; Might this trigger the pandemic that experts have been anticipating? Only time will reveal. In the meantime maintain a distance from those yet possibly hazardous voles and stay tuned for further information. The UK could be the stop, on the viruss journey, through Europe.
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