Virologists discovered how to stop hantavirus. Originally hantavirus causes flu-like symptoms,but very quickly may develop respiratory syndrome. As a result, 30-40% of people infected with the virus die from lung fever, writes Medical News Today.

Microbiologists from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) found that in order to gain entry into host cells, the virus hijacks proteins that help regulate cholesterol.

Therefore, the means reducing the level of cholesterol are capable of protecting against infection. The scientists revealed four proteins that are part of a complex that regulates cholesterol production in mammalian cells.

Then they tested the experimental drug PF-429242, that targets one of these proteins - when used to treat cells from human airways, made them less vulnerable to infection. The preparation also reduced the level of cholesterol in cells.

The generic drug mevastatin which is already in the market also works. But the most effective was the strategy of combo mevastatin and PF-429242.