Better Yet: Your questions on hantavirus answered

Hello Better Yet subscribers. I'm Sam Woodward.

There are a lot of questions swarming the internet right now about the deadly hantavirus after a luxury cruise ship was hit by an outbreak, with many wondering: Should we be worried about this?

USA TODAY's Sara Moniuszko has got some answers for you.

👀 Read the article here.

What to know about hantavirus

❓Is this the same situation as COVID?

No. This is not the same as the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the latest World Health Organization briefing, epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove explained hantavirus is very different from coronavirus and does not spread the same way. She also emphasized that risk to the general public remains low.

"I want to be unequivocal here: this is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the start of a COVID pandemic," she said. "This is an outbreak that we see on a ship (and) there's a confined area... But this is not the same situation we were in six years ago."

❓How do you contract hantavirus?

Hantavirus is primarily spread by rodents through exposure to their urine, droppings or saliva and less commonly through a scratch or bite, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"While rare, hantavirus may spread between people and can lead to severe respiratory illness and requires careful patient monitoring, support and response," according to the WHO.

❓Is there a cure for hantavirus?

There is no specific treatment that cures hantavirus diseases, according to the WHO, but early supportive medical care is "key to improve survival." This care includes clinical monitoring and managing any respiratory, cardiac or other complications, the organization says.

🩺 More health reads for your weekend

• Have you lost weight using a GLP-1? This study found that people may be judging you more harshly.
• Health and Human Services Sec. RFK Jr. compared heroin to this popular depression management tool. Experts are pushing back.
• And one study found that coffee may help protect your body from aging and disease (I say writing this with a latte in hand ☕️).

🌷And this week, I'm loving...

• Fresh cut flowers. It's almost peak lilac bloom where I live and I could not be more excited. And how timely! It's Mother's Day eve and – mom, if you're reading this, spoiler alert – I will absolutely be gifting some flowers.
  • And if Mother's Day is difficult for you for any reason, remember to take care of yourself. 💛

Have a lovely weekend all,

Sam