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A new study has found that black rats - known as invasive species - are the sole carriers of hantavirus.

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Hantavirus can make humans sick if they come into contact with the urine, droppings, or saliva of infected rats. Scientists from universities in California, France, and Madagascar studied this problem to figure out why black rats are causing so much trouble.

Black rats originally came from Asia. They arrived in Madagascar between the 10th and 14th centuries and have spread all over the island since then. These rats are not native to Madagascar, they are “invasive species,” and they often cause problems for local wildlife and people.

Scientists worked closely with communities near Marojejy National Park , a protected rain forest area in Madagascar. They tested nearly 2,000 animals for hantavirus.

They found:

Out of all the animals they tested, only black rats were carrying hantavirus.
Larger, older black rats were more likely to carry the virus. These rats lived mostly on farmland, not inside houses.
Farmers working in fields are more likely to get infected because that’s where the infected rats hang out.

The study shows that the way humans use land—like cutting down trees to create farms—makes it easier for black rats to spread the virus. When forests are cleared, it creates perfect habitats for black rats to grow. These rats like open spaces and crops, so farming areas become hotspots for hantavirus.

What is Hantavirus?

Hantavirus is a type of virus that comes from a family called Bunyaviridae. It is found all over the world and is carried by rodents like rats, mice, and voles. These rodents don’t get sick from the virus, but they can pass it to humans.

Hantavirus can cause two main diseases in humans:

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS): This affects lungs and can be very serious. It makes it hard to breathe because the lungs fill with fluid.
Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS): This affects kidneys and can cause bleeding problems.

Hantaviruses are not transmitted from person to person. The virus spreads when humans touch or breathe in tiny particles of rodent waste.

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Source:

INDIA TODAY

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. There is growing evidence linking zoonotic diseases to climate change and environmental degradation. How can nations balance economic development with ecological preservation to mitigate future pandemics? 250 words

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