Sanjay Gupta

So the kind of virus that's found in the Americas, that typically causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

lung features.

So again, initially flu-like, fatigue, fevers, chills, and aches, but then shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, lungs start to fill with fluid.

After exposure, symptoms again can take a while to develop, but sadly, nearly 40% of those who do develop respiratory symptoms will die of this infection.

There's another kind that's primarily found in Europe and Asia that can cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

That means the kidneys.

So people, again, develop headaches, abdominal pain, nausea, but then they may develop low blood pressure, internal bleeding, and kidney failure.

And in those cases, up to 15% of cases are fatal.

Big question a lot of people ask, obviously, is there a cure or even a treatment for hantavirus?

Short answer is no.

We don't have a vaccine or specific antivirals for the viruses.

Patients are typically treated with hydration, rest, and what is known as symptomatic treatment.

They treat the symptoms.

When people have bad lung problems, sometimes they may be placed on something known as ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

That basically means, hey, look, the lungs simply aren't working.

They take the blood outside the body, oxygenate it, and then put it back inside the body.

It's obviously very extreme, but that's what they do to try and keep someone alive.

But there is no specific cure.

Yeah, this is an important question.

What we know about this virus is limited.