The Fujian Health Newspaper reported that a 31-year-old man in Fuzhou recently contracted the hantavirus. The man’s condition deteriorated rapidly, progressing from a high fever to shock, and he was at one point transferred to the intensive care unit of Fuzhou Second General Hospital. The man later suspected a link between his infection and his pet hamster at home.
According to the report, in the middle of last month, the man visited the emergency department of Fuzhou Second General Hospital due to repeatedly high fevers of up to 39.8°C, accompanied by general fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and over ten episodes of diarrhea in a single day. Doctors immediately noticed something unusual about his symptoms: his platelet count had dropped significantly, multiple indicators such as liver enzymes and creatinine were alarmingly high, and there was accumulation of fluid around his kidneys.
After being admitted to the infectious diseases department, the man's condition took a sudden turn for the worse: his platelet count plummeted further, urine output dropped drastically, and his situation became extremely critical, requiring an emergency transfer to the intensive care unit for rescue. The Fujian Health Newspaper noted that after treatments such as anti-infective therapy, liver protection, fluid replacement, and platelet transfusions, the man finally pulled through. Subsequent pathogen testing confirmed he was positive for hantavirus.
Cheng Bianqiao, chief physician of the department of infectious diseases at Fuzhou Second General Hospital, stated that after further inquiry, doctors learned that the man kept a pet rodent at home and had a history of close contact, as well as recent outdoor activity prior to falling ill.
The man suspected that his hantavirus infection was linked to his pet hamster, but Cheng Bianqiao explained that regularly and artificially bred pet rodents are not natural hosts of hantavirus and generally do not carry the virus; however, if pet rodents at home come into contact with wild mice or live in unsanitary conditions, there is still a risk of contamination. Combining the man’s clinical presentation and laboratory findings, it is highly suspected that this infection is closely related to rodent exposure.
The Fujian Health Newspaper pointed out that the main routes of hantavirus transmission include: respiratory transmission—by inhaling aerosols containing the virus from rodent excreta; contact transmission—skin or mucous membrane contact with rodent excreta or being bitten by rodents; digestive tract transmission—consuming food or water contaminated by rodents.
Cheng Bianqiao reminded the public that early symptoms of hantavirus infection are extremely similar to those of the common cold, making misdiagnosis easy, but there are typical signs for differentiation: Three Reds—flushing of the face, neck, and upper chest, similar to looking "drunk"; Three Pains—headache, lower back pain, and pain around the eyes; other warning signs include: high fever above 39°C, worsening of symptoms after the fever subsides, appearance of petechiae on the skin, conjunctival edema, and a sharp reduction in urine output.
Cheng Bianqiao emphasized that should any of these symptoms appear, do not take cold medicine by yourself and be sure to go to a regular hospital for medical attention as soon as possible. Following the principles of "early detection, early rest, early treatment, and seeking nearby medical care" can significantly reduce the risk of severe illness.