MedCram Update: Hackman Hantavirus Case, H5N1 Spread and Congo Unknown Illness

MedCram physician Roger Seheult reviewed the Hackman hantavirus case, noting Betsy Hackman died rapidly of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome at their New Mexico home while Gene Hackman had advanced Alzheimer's; US HPS deaths totaled 259 from 1993 to 2018. H5N1 updates include a PB2 E627K mutation found in San Bernardino County cattle, 70 US human infections and 1 death since last March across 985 dairy herds, and H5N1 reaching Antarctic skua breeding sites. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo outbreak, at least 1,300 people had symptoms and 53 died as of February 25, with Ebola tests negative and about 50% testing positive for malaria parasites.