Hantavirus

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans. Each hantavirus is typically associated with a specific rodent reservoir species, in which the virus causes long‑term infection without apparent illness.

Although many hantavirus species have been identified worldwide, only a limited number are known to cause human disease. Worldwide, it is estimated that from 10 000 to over 100 000 infections occur each year, with the largest burden in Asia and Europe.

Hantaviruses are associated with two major diseases in humans: the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) predominantly reported in the Americas, and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), mainly reported in Europe and Asia.

People usually get infected through contact with infected rodents or their urine, droppings or saliva. To date, limited human-to-human transmission has been documented only for the Andes virus which is endemic in some parts of the Americas.

Hantavirus infection in people can result in severe illness and often death, although the diseases vary by type of virus and geographical location.      

In humans, symptoms usually begin between one and eight weeks after exposure, depending on the type of virus, and typically include fever, headache, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.

In hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), the disease may progress rapidly to cough, shortness of breath, accumulation of fluid in the lungs and shock. In hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), later stages may include low blood pressure, bleeding disorders and kidney failure.

While there is no specific treatment that cures hantavirus diseases, early supportive medical care is key to improving survival and focuses on close clinical monitoring and management of respiratory, cardiac and kidney complications. Prevention depends largely on reducing contacts between people and infected rodents.