Source: Gazet Van Antwerpen 23rd July 2005

The hanta virus has cropped up again in Wallonia. The virus is passed to man by bank voles and, in the worst-case scenario, can prove fatal. 120 cases were diagnosed during the first half of this year.

"In recent years, more and more cases of infection with the hanta virus have been reported," says virologist Marc Van Ranst (Catholic University of Leuven). "The virus is mainly to be found in the provinces of Liège, Namur and Luxemburg. Doctors in these areas are becoming increasingly familiar with the virus and the labs are also able to diagnose cases quicker."

"The virus strikes every few years. It usually surfaces at the end of spring or the beginning of summer." Bank voles spread the hanta virus via their urine and faeces. "If we have a wet summer then the population increases," explains Marc Van Ranst.

In the Ardennes, in particular, you should be careful but hikers do not need to worry too much. "Bank voles like to build their nests in summer houses and in piles of wood and leave their faeces there.

When people clean out their summer houses, the dust is disturbed and they breathe it in. In order to prevent this from happening, you should first clean the floor with water containing bleach. The hanta virus affects more men then women because the former tidy up the summer house more often."

Antiviral treatment does not yet exist. And people often do not know that they have been infected with the hanta virus because the symptoms are similar to those of summer flu. "In most cases all you suffer is a few days of fever," says virologist Van Ranst. "But if the kidneys are affected then swift action needs to be taken. If infection with the hanta virus is not picked up in time then it can be fatal."