What is hantavirus?

What are hantaviruses?

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents (rats, mice, and other small mammals). They can cause serious disease in humans.

There are two main disease syndromes:

• Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) — mainly in the Americas
• Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) — mainly in Europe and Asia

Key facts

• Transmission: Through contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva; mainly by breathing in contaminated dust
• Incubation period: Usually 1 to 8 weeks
• Case fatality rate (HPS): About 38% (varies by virus type)
• No vaccine: Currently no approved vaccine for humans
• No specific treatment: Supportive care is the main treatment

Where does it occur?

• Americas: HPS (USA, Canada, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay)
• Europe: HFRS (Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France, Balkans)
• Asia: HFRS (China, Korea, Russia, other countries)

Sources

• CDC - Hantavirus
• WHO - Hantavirus
• ECDC - Hantavirus