From the Guidelines
Hantavirus infection initially presents with flu-like symptoms including fever, muscle aches, headache, and fatigue, which can rapidly deteriorate into life-threatening Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) if not promptly treated. These early symptoms typically appear 1-8 weeks after exposure and can be easily mistaken for other illnesses 1. As the disease progresses, patients may develop coughing and shortness of breath as fluid accumulates in the lungs, signaling the onset of HPS. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain are also common. The disease can rapidly deteriorate, causing respiratory failure and requiring immediate medical attention. Some key points to consider about hantavirus symptoms include:
- The virus is transmitted through contact with infected rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, not from person to person 1
- The virus damages blood vessels, causing them to leak fluid into the lungs, which explains the respiratory distress
- Anyone experiencing these symptoms after potential rodent exposure should seek immediate medical care, as early treatment in an intensive care setting significantly improves survival chances
- Prevention involves eliminating rodent contact through proper sanitation and sealing entry points in homes
- Hantavirus infections are associated with domestic, occupational, or recreational activities that bring humans into contact with infected rodents, usually in rural settings 1
- The overall mortality of HPS is high, including deaths among previously healthy young persons, making prompt medical attention crucial 1
From the Research
Symptoms of Hantavirus
The symptoms of Hantavirus infection can be categorized into two main clinical presentations:
- Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) 2, 3, 4, 5
- Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) also known as hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) 2, 3, 4, 5
Pathophysiology of Hantavirus Diseases
Hantaviruses infect target cells and inhibit the apoptotic factor in these cells, impairing the integrity of the endothelial barrier due to an excessive innate immune response 5.
Diagnostic Strategies
A wide range of diagnostic tools are used to detect Hantavirus in the human body, including:
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 5
- Focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT) 5
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 5
- Immunoblot assay (IBA) 5
- Immunofluorescence assay (IFA) 5
- Other molecular techniques 5
Therapeutic Approaches
Currently, there are no FDA-approved vaccines or treatments for Hantavirus diseases 2, 3, 4, 5. However, various candidate drugs have shown efficacy in increasing survival rates during the early stages of Hantavirus infection, including:
- Lactoferrin 4
- Ribavirin 4, 6
- ETAR 4
- Favipiravir 4, 6
- Vandetanib 4
- Immunotherapy utilizing neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) generated from Hantavirus convalescent patients 4
- Monoclonal antibodies such as MIB22 and JL16 4
- RNA interference (RNAi) therapy 4
- Small interfering RNA (siRNA) and other immune-based therapies 4