Having hantavirus was 'hell on earth'

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Having hantavirus was 'hell on earth'17 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleLorne MichaelsLorne Warburton caught the hantavirus three years ago and says he was lucky to be alive. Lorne Warburton had never heard of the hantavirus until three years ago when he was taken to hospital and put on life support, describing the sickness as "torture" and "hell on earth". The Canadian, told Outside Source that in March 2019 he started feeling unwell with "Covid-type symptoms, body aches, a chronic headache and fatigue".

His symptoms quickly developed and he says he was "drenched in sweat and couldn't breathe". After he was connected to a life support machine, he was diagnosed with hantavirus, and spent around three weeks in hospital. "The degree of illness and sickness that I went through was hell on earth, it was torture, to go through that and to be able to bounce back.

The Details

"Hantavirus-hit cruise ship on way to Canary Islands after three evacuatedHow worried should we be about hantavirus? Over in Germany, Christin Ege also recounted experiencing Covid-like symptoms in May 2019, saying had a stomach flu for three days, vomiting, dizziness and that it felt like a "strange flu". After doing a blood test with a doctor, he was taken to hospital where he suffered kidney failure and sepsis, and was taken into ICU for a few days with a neck catheter to establish dialysis access.

Christian also told the that the sepsis was the most worrying part of his illness. "The kidneys recovered normally, but it was the coincidence of a bacterial and a viral escalation at the same time that was a bit worrying for a couple of days for sure. "Christian EgeChristian Ege had kidney failure and sepsis when he was taken to hospital with hantavirus and said he was lucky there was 'no consequential damage'Lorne and Christian are among those who have survived hantavirus, of which some strains can have a mortality rate of 20% to 40%.

Both men have been sharing their experiences after a rare strain of hantavirus was found in patients linked to a deadly outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship. So far three passengers on the MV Hondius have died after the cruise ship set sail from Argentina on its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean around a month ago. The cruise operator confirmed that three people - including one Briton - were evacuated from the ship on Wednesday to the Netherlands for treatment.

The Briton - who several media outlets have identified as 56-year-old ex-police officer Martin Anstee - is said to be in a stable condition. Anstee's wife, Nicola, told the Daily Telegraph, it had been "a very dramatic few days" and that it had been "a bit up and down for him. "Separately, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed on Wednesday that two British people are self-isolating at home in the UK after potential exposure to hantavirus.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.