Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl says hantavirus almost killed him eight years ago

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl understands the pain those with coronavirus are feeling, as the pandemic reminds him of a time he almost died after contracting hantavirus eight years ago.

In 2012, while in charge of German side VfR Aalen, Hasenhuttl was diagnosed with a strain of the potentially fatal hantavirus, which is usually transmitted through exposure to rodent droppings.

During a spell in hospital in the intensive care unit, the Austrian’s kidneys weakened and his weight fluctuated, and he recalls being worried about losing his job due to his extended absence.

“I know there are people dying from this virus. It’s what I tried to push away because I felt young, felt healthy and strong. I thought, ‘Why should I die from such a virus?’,” Hasenhuttl said.

“It was definitely serious. I was more than two weeks in hospital and in intensive care. I had big pain and it was not nice. I don’t want to have this again. I know how it feels.

“The crazy thing was that we didn’t know what it was in the beginning. It was especially in the region when I was managing at that time.

“It was happening [there] a little bit more often that people get it there. That was the reason we checked it and then knew that I had this virus.

“You have to wait until your body creates antibodies and then hope to survive. I was just promoted with a third-league team (Aalen) to the second league. I nearly lost my job at the time because I was very long out.”