Years ago, Hantavirus struck NM, a/k/a Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or Hantavirus hemorrhagic fever, which was transmitted by inhaling urine droplets from rodents. Hantavirus began with flu-like symptoms, and could rapidly progress to life-threatening breathing difficulty or acute renal failure. We wondered why the vast majority of victims were born after 1972?
Some viruses can be related, i.e. in the same family of viruses, and prior infection or vaccination against one virus may be partially protective against another. Hantavirus is in the family of hemorrhagic viruses, which includes smallpox. Could those who had a smallpox vaccination as a child (vaccination ended in 1972), have had some protection against Hantavirus?
Today, experts suggest children get mild illness from covid-19, and may or may not have symptoms. We wonder if some of the many other viruses children acquire early in life and deemed a “common cold”; or some of the 100+ vaccines children receive early in life (including the MMR—against measles, mumps, and rubella; and the DPT against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), could be similar enough to covid-19 to provide children partial immunity and protection from severe illness?
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