By Franklin Delgado
A French woman hospitalized in Paris is in critical condition due to a severe form of hantavirus. She is being treated with a synthetic lung to help deal with serious lung and heart problems.
This was reported this Tuesday by a doctor from the Parisian hospital that treats her, he reported. Associated Press (AP).
This woman is connected to a main support device that pumps blood through a synthetic lung, oxygenating it and returning it to the body, said Dr. Xavier Lescure, an infectious disease specialist at the Bichat Hospital.
So far, a total of 11 cases have been reported, with 9 confirmations. The latest infected is a Spanish passenger quarantined in a military facility in Madrid. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that the spread appears to be contained to the passengers and crew of the cruise ship.
Let us remember that three people died on board the cruise ship, including a Dutch couple who, according to health authorities, were the first to be infected with the virus during their visit to South America.
Meanwhile, a team of Argentine experts will be sent to investigate the origin of the disease, focusing on a bird-watching tour where it is suspected that the Dutch couple may have been exposed to the virus in a landfill.
Problem moved from the cruise ship to hospitals
The evacuation of passengers and crew from the MV Hondius was completed successfully, with all 87 passengers and 35 crew members moved ashore under protection. The evacuees are quarantined in different facilities.
Twelve employees of a health facility in the Netherlands have been quarantined after improperly handling bodily fluids from an infected patient. Although the risk of infection is low, it is considered a necessary preventive measure.
Diagnosis of hantavirus infection in a properly being facility
Hantavirus infection is diagnosed in the hospital by combining clinical history and physical examination, imaging tests and specific laboratory tests (serology and PCR) to confirm the presence of the virus or antibodies directed against it.
How the diagnosis usually proceeds:
- Clinical assessment and history: The team asks about exposure to rodents or their excreta and evaluates initial flu-like symptoms that can quickly evolve into respiratory distress or kidney dysfunction; These data point towards hantavirus.
- Signs and physical examination: Look for tachypnea, hypoxemia, abnormal lung sounds, and signs of hypotension or renal failure that suggest hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome depending on the regional presentation.
Laboratory and microbiology tests:
- Serology (ELISA IgM/IgG): Specific antibodies against hantavirus are sought; IgM detection indicates recent infection and is the most used test in many clinical guidelines.
- PCR (RT-PCR) in blood or respiratory samples: detects viral RNA and can confirm infection, especially in early phases or severe cases; Its availability depends on the facility or reference laboratory.
- Supportive routine tests: complete blood count (thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis or leukopenia), metabolic profile (kidney and liver function), arterial blood gases and urinalysis help evaluate severity and affected organs.
Imaging and monitoring tests:
- Chest x-ray and/or chest tomography: Used to identify infiltrates, pulmonary edema or bilateral involvement characteristic of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.
- Monitoring in the Care Unit (if applicable): Patients with hypoxemia or hemodynamic instability are usually admitted to the ICU for ventilatory and hemodynamic support.
Practical diagnostic flow:
- Clinical suspicion due to exposure and symptoms → initial tests (gasometry, laboratory, x-ray) → specific tests (IgM/IgG serology and/or RT-PCR) → confirmation and management in the ICU if necessary.
Availability and times:
- Laboratory confirmation may require shipment to reference laboratories in some countries; Therefore, treatment is usually initiated based on clinical suspicion and severity while awaiting results.
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