Trump administration cut funding to study hantavirus

Trump administration cut funding to study hantavirus(scientificamerican.com)

23 points by solid_fuel 10 days ago | 19 comments

Bender 10 days ago |

Surely there are more common diseases that could better utilize the funding. We are also in a war time economy so I would not expect the government to fund anything that is not a weapon unless we are wanting to weaponize Hantavirus.

There are very rare but occasional outbreaks in places where mice and rats breed uncontrolled. Public parks mostly in Arizona, California, Colorado and New Mexico where the rental cabins are not occupied for part of the season. The rodents take over the cabins and then humans show up and get infected. Hantavirus is very rare. There have been less than a few hundred cases in the last few decades. There is a rare strain of Hanta in South America has has a 40-50% fatality rate but in most strains the fatality rate is 20% to 40%. It is also very rare in South America and Africa.

If that ship has been overtaken by rodents infected with Hanta then quarantine the ship, eliminate the rodents and sanitize the ship. Or capture all the mice and release them into the underground missile cities.

gnabgib 10 days ago | |

Outbreaks are rare because hantavirus[0] comes from rodents, so you might be unlucky and get it - but you can't share it with others.

There is, however, one far more dangerous form.. called Andes Virus[1] (notice where the ship started its journey) Andes-hanta can be spread person-to-person. Dangerous in close-quarters, probably a bad region to start a cruise from.

[0]: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/about/index.html

[1]: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/about/andesvirus.html

Bender 10 days ago | | |

I think the key is close quarters transmission is required for ANDV. It requires people to share a bed or have close proximity. This is primarily a threat to family members which means it is much easier to contain than say COVID. This should in theory be easier to track and isolate than monkey-pox. It could however be a threat to other people in a hospital so they may have to dedicate a wing of a hospital to these people. They would know who was on the ship and could follow their path. I am not suggesting it is not a threat but I think it's being blown out of proportion.

solid_fuel 10 days ago | |

We are not in a wartime economy, what are you talking about?

Bender 10 days ago | | |

We are at war with Iran, indirectly at war with Russia and likely about to be at war with Cuba and indirectly with China. Automotive plants in the US are about to be converted to make military vehicles and weapons. Oddly enough this is barely being covered. The framework is being put in place to reinstate the draft. All of the "peace talks" with Iran have been stalling tactics by both sides. Their plan is to wait until Trump loses the mid-terms and is impeached and that may not be the end of it. The war with Iran could potentially drag on for decades and could impact resource distribution world wide. I would expect fuel rationing to start in July or August. At some point afterwards grocery stores will somehow limit purchases. The corporate news will cover these things at some point.

AmazingEveryDay 10 days ago |

Something about the social media hantavirus engagement seems a bit inorganic, certainly on reddit and also here.

soupspaces 10 days ago | |

Earlier this year it seemed to me to have been happening with silver and it matched with a price hike. Which caused which?

sebastiennight 9 days ago | | |

Buying call options on hantavirus stocks, thanks for the tip

sltkr 10 days ago |

https://archive.is/Ik3Sl