A woman who survived hantavirus as a child has described the terrifying symptoms that left her with a lifelong phobia of vomiting. Shaina Montiel, 38, caught the virus more than three decades ago but still remembers the ordeal clearly. At the time, the condition was extremely rare, and it took several doctors to diagnose her after she began vomiting and experiencing rectal haemorrhaging at the age of five.
A Rare and Traumatic Diagnosis
Shaina, from a suburb of Los Angeles, California, was eventually diagnosed with the haemorrhagic strain of hantavirus, which differs from the Andes strain recently found aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius. As a schoolgirl, she spent over a week in hospital undergoing tests for meningitis and leukaemia before receiving the correct diagnosis.
She recalled the intense pain she endured, saying that even a light touch caused her to flinch. After recovering, she was monitored for two years due to the rarity and lack of knowledge surrounding the condition at the time.
Sharing Her Story After Decades of Silence
Now that hantavirus has gained public attention, Shaina has decided to share her experiences, having gone over 30 years without encountering another survivor. She said: "I have a lot of memories from that time, because it was so traumatic - I've never forgotten it. I remember I had flu-like symptoms and was given antibiotics, then one day I began haemorrhaging rectally - I couldn't control it."
She added: "It hit me really hard - no illness since has caused that severe vomiting. When I was diagnosed, the doctors asked my mom's permission to document everything in my case because it was so uncommon. Seeing someone who survived it on TV this week was the first time I'd seen another survivor."
The Onset of Illness
Shaina fell ill in 1993 with what initially seemed like the flu. After being prescribed antibiotics, she returned to the doctor the next day feeling weak, but was reassured it was just the flu. However, over the following days, she began uncontrollably haemorrhaging blood and faeces from her rectum. She explained: "The hospital didn't know what it was, and apparently they tested me for meningitis and leukaemia. But there was a doctor there who said he'd just come from a seminar about hantavirus. I was sent to a children's hospital where my diagnosis was confirmed."
She also developed a blood rash under her skin, and her mother noted that even touching her hair caused extreme sensitivity. Shaina was severely unwell and in pain for about two weeks. While the exact source of infection remains unknown, it was suspected to be from animal faeces in her rural back garden.
Long-Term Monitoring and Health Anxiety
After recovering, Shaina was monitored for two years. Her mother had to check for blood in her stool after every bathroom visit. Doctors warned of potential long-term effects on her kidneys or vision, but she experienced none. However, she developed health anxiety throughout childhood and into adulthood, fearing she would die from a rare disease. She also developed a fear of vomiting.
"Growing up, I read a lot of books about infectious diseases because I wanted to know more about what I had," she said.
Speaking Out Amid Recent Outbreak
With the recent outbreak of hantavirus on a cruise ship, Shaina felt compelled to speak out. She expressed concern about the human-to-human transmission strain, as she had always believed the virus was only spread by rodents. She said: "It's super weird now, everyone else getting to know about something I went through. It was scary and a horrible experience that I don't want anyone else to go through."
She added: "Knowing there are people who are suffering with it and who might catch it, it's chilling. Those poor families that are now dealing with it, oh my gosh. I just hope they recover, like I did."
