Reporter : Gao Jianwen
Editor : Yun Tian
Publisher : Sound Of Hope
Ref : https://www.soundofhope.org/post/376696
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Image : Due to the covid pandemic and closures of restaurants, rats scamper about and raise the risk of "rat-to-human" hepatitis E infections.
The first "rat-to-human" viral hepatitis E case in the history of the outbreak in Hong Kong in 2018 has been confirmed by 11 people so far. At present, scientists know nothing about the transmission route, treatment method and scope of infection of "rat-to-human" viral hepatitis E. Experts worry that these 11 confirmed cases may be just the tip of the iceberg.
According to CNN reports, since the first "rat-to-human" viral hepatitis E case occurred in September 2018, confirmed cases have been reported in Hong Kong for three consecutive years. Since the first study, 10 Hong Kong residents have diagnosed positive with rat hepatitis E. The most recent case was a 61-year-old man living in the Southern District who was diagnosed with the virus on April 30.
The report said that in the two years since the discovery of rat hepatitis E cases, the researchers have not yet determined the exact route of transmission from mice to humans. There is a theory that perhaps these patients drank contaminated water or treated contaminated objects to infect them, but did not get any definitive proof. The 61-year-old male patient diagnosed recently had no rats or mouse droppings in his home, and other people in his family had no related symptoms, and the patient had no recent travel history.
Experts also said that it has not yet been known how long the incubation period of the virus is, and because the treatment method using human E liver has no obvious effect on the disease, there is currently no suitable treatment. But the biggest problem is that it is difficult to prevent further infections because it is not known how the virus spreads from mice to humans. In theory, people living in areas where rats are infested should be at a higher risk, but some infected patients come from communities with fewer rats.
Experts believe that the 11 confirmed cases in Hong Kong may be just the tip of the iceberg. There may be hundreds of infected cases in the community that have not been diagnosed. Because many rats with hepatitis E only have mild symptoms, in some cases they do not even know they have been infected or go to the hospital.
Experts also pointed out that "rat-to-human" hepatitis E is not only a problem in Hong Kong, it may infect people in New York or Paris. We just do not know, because no one has tested it, and the virus it may even linger secretly for a long time. According to a report in February 2019, in addition to 11 cases in Hong Kong, another case in the world is a man from Canada who has been to Africa. He went to the hospital after experiencing urticaria, nausea, severe jaundice, and liver inflammation, and tested "rat-to-human" hepatitis E.
The report pointed out that this virus will have a serious impact on health, especially for patients with weakened immunity. Young healthy people without previous diseases may be able to recover on their own, but for vulnerable people, it may lead to chronic hepatitis that cannot be rid of, as well as long-term liver damage or the formation of scar tissue.
Editor : Yun Tian
Publisher : Sound Of Hope
Ref : https://www.soundofhope.org/post/376696
Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
Image : Due to the covid pandemic and closures of restaurants, rats scamper about and raise the risk of "rat-to-human" hepatitis E infections.
The first "rat-to-human" viral hepatitis E case in the history of the outbreak in Hong Kong in 2018 has been confirmed by 11 people so far. At present, scientists know nothing about the transmission route, treatment method and scope of infection of "rat-to-human" viral hepatitis E. Experts worry that these 11 confirmed cases may be just the tip of the iceberg.
According to CNN reports, since the first "rat-to-human" viral hepatitis E case occurred in September 2018, confirmed cases have been reported in Hong Kong for three consecutive years. Since the first study, 10 Hong Kong residents have diagnosed positive with rat hepatitis E. The most recent case was a 61-year-old man living in the Southern District who was diagnosed with the virus on April 30.
The report said that in the two years since the discovery of rat hepatitis E cases, the researchers have not yet determined the exact route of transmission from mice to humans. There is a theory that perhaps these patients drank contaminated water or treated contaminated objects to infect them, but did not get any definitive proof. The 61-year-old male patient diagnosed recently had no rats or mouse droppings in his home, and other people in his family had no related symptoms, and the patient had no recent travel history.
Experts also said that it has not yet been known how long the incubation period of the virus is, and because the treatment method using human E liver has no obvious effect on the disease, there is currently no suitable treatment. But the biggest problem is that it is difficult to prevent further infections because it is not known how the virus spreads from mice to humans. In theory, people living in areas where rats are infested should be at a higher risk, but some infected patients come from communities with fewer rats.
Experts believe that the 11 confirmed cases in Hong Kong may be just the tip of the iceberg. There may be hundreds of infected cases in the community that have not been diagnosed. Because many rats with hepatitis E only have mild symptoms, in some cases they do not even know they have been infected or go to the hospital.
Experts also pointed out that "rat-to-human" hepatitis E is not only a problem in Hong Kong, it may infect people in New York or Paris. We just do not know, because no one has tested it, and the virus it may even linger secretly for a long time. According to a report in February 2019, in addition to 11 cases in Hong Kong, another case in the world is a man from Canada who has been to Africa. He went to the hospital after experiencing urticaria, nausea, severe jaundice, and liver inflammation, and tested "rat-to-human" hepatitis E.
The report pointed out that this virus will have a serious impact on health, especially for patients with weakened immunity. Young healthy people without previous diseases may be able to recover on their own, but for vulnerable people, it may lead to chronic hepatitis that cannot be rid of, as well as long-term liver damage or the formation of scar tissue.
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