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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Joshua Smith & Jamie Hawkins

Hantavirus: Man in coronavirus-ravaged China dies from similar disease spread by rats

A man who died in China has reportedly tested positive for hantavirus - a disease that is spread through rodents.

China's Global Times report that the man was travelling from Yunnan Province to Shangdong province on a bus when he died.

Around 32 others that were on the bus at the time have been tested for the virus. Their results are not known.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantaviruses are a family of viruses which are spread mainly by rodents and can cause varied diseases in people.

The disease is not airborne and can only spread to people if they come in contact with urine, faeces, and saliva of rodents and less frequently by a bite from an infected host.

Do you have a coronavirus story? Email  webnews@mirror.co.uk

Hantavirus is spread through rodents (Getty Images)
Coronavirus (Getty Images)

A 28-year-old man in Wrexham became infected with the hantavirus in November 2012, according to NHS Wales.

He suffered with a four-day history of fever, vomiting and headache, Daily Star reports.

The man was discharged after making a full recovery after spending 52 days in hospital.

The symptoms of hantavirus are:

  • Fever, chills, body aches, headaches
  • Nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain
  • New rash (faint red spots)
  • A dry cough followed by rapid onset of breathing difficulty

Meanwhile Britain has entered its first day of a nationwide lockdown imposed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Police are warning they will take action against people breaking lockdown rules like standing too close together, using public transport for non-essential travel- or even  visiting their boyfriend or girlfriend's home.

The PM used an  historic live TV address  last night to order all Brits: "You must stay at home."

Residents are only allowed out in four strict circumstances: to collect vital food and medicines, to exercise once per day, to attend medical appointments or to travel to essential places of work if they cannot work from home.

Social gatherings of more than two people face being broken up by police - and Brits can now be fined for leaving their homes without a valid reason.

Meanwhile, all  non-essential businesses were ordered to cease trading  at midnight.

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