Introduction / Disclaimers

    intro.html
    Last Modified: 01/18/2000

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    Hantavirus safety is something you should take seriously.

    If you live in the Americas, you should know about Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). HPS is an infectious respiratory disease caused by the hantavirus, a Biosafety Level 4 pathogen that you can probably find in your own back yard. Without prompt care, HPS is typically fatal, and nearly one-half of all hantavirus-infected individuals have died.

    I am trying to provide this site as a basic HPS resource, to help educate the general public about Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and its prevention. While I don't expect you, the reader, to devour every word in this site, I do have one simple hope in mind: to have you achieve a greater "HPS awareness". Know that the hantavirus is out there. Know how it is spread. Know how you are most likely to get infected. And know that if you contract the disease, it can kill you.

    Currently, hantavirus education in North America is appalingly low. Fortunately, HPS is a rare disease, but it can affect anyone, and it should be acknowledged for its hazards. HPS is very simple to prevent: simply knowing a few key things about the hantavirus and its methods of contagion can drastically reduce your risks of ever contracting the disease.

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    Responsibility disclaimer: While I do strive to make this page as useful as possible, I do not claim to be an expert on HPS or the disease agent itself. If you have any further questions or concerns, especially about matters that may affect your personal health, then please consult a local health official. I claim no responsibilities in matters that regard your own safety and well-being.

    Content disclaimer: The written material on this site was composed by me, but was gathered through various means, namely (1) the research of various online and published sources, and (2) feedback from generous people who know a lot more about hantavirus/HPS matters than I do. Thusly, I do not take credit for any of the actual information present. But if anything is found to be incorrect, it's probably my fault.

    Also, most of the photographs and images used on this site were borrowed from other sources -- some of these were borrowed with permission, some without. I try to give credit to these images when possible.

    Functionality disclaimer: I apologize if any links on this site are outdated or broken. I try to keep everything in shape, but I can't stop the world from changing.

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