âHantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
             HPS is a virus and an infectious respiratory disease caused by the Hantavirus, a Biosafety Level 4 pathogen, which could probably be found in your own back yard. Without the proper care, HPS is a typically fatal. This "hantavirus" belongs a group of RNA virii related to the family Bunyaviridae and, depending on its nature, may be the etiological agent for one of two acute illnesses: hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Rodents, especially the deer mouse, carry Hantaviruses that cause HPS. You can become infected by exposure to their droppings. The HFRS causing hantavirii are endemic to East Asia, while HPS-causing hantavirii are endemic to the New World. Nearly one- half of all Hantavirus- infected individuals have died. The Hantavirus has a reputation for being a "rare" virus, which is a misunderstanding. In the United States, the virus is ubiquitous, being found in over half of the lower 48 states. In fact, cases of the diseas!
             e have occurred in at least thirty states.
             The first symptoms can occur anywhere between five days and three weeks after infection. They usually include fever, fatigue, and aching muscles, usually includes the back, shoulders, and the thighs. Other early symptoms include headaches, dizziness, chills, and abdominal discomfort such as vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. These early symptoms are difficult to distinguish, and are usually overlooked. These symptoms are usually described as "flu-like". Because they indicate that the body's immune system is kicking in to defend itself against a viral infection, flu, or otherwise. In addition, since most people experience these symptoms at least once a year, so HPS will almost never be detected at this point. HPS begins to distinguish itself in its later symptoms, which usually occurs between three to five days later. The
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