From the Guidelines
Hantavirus is a rare but potentially deadly virus transmitted to humans primarily through contact with infected rodents, particularly their urine, droppings, or saliva. It causes two main illnesses: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in the Americas and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia. HPS begins with flu-like symptoms including fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue, then rapidly progresses to severe respiratory problems as fluid fills the lungs. HFRS causes similar initial symptoms but leads to kidney damage and bleeding problems. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for hantavirus infections; medical care focuses on supporting respiratory and kidney function while the body fights the infection. Prevention is crucial and involves avoiding contact with rodents, properly cleaning rodent-infested areas using disinfectants and protective equipment, and eliminating rodent habitats around homes. Early medical attention is essential if symptoms develop after potential rodent exposure, as prompt intensive care significantly improves survival chances. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1, updated recommendations for risk reduction include minimizing the likelihood of human exposure to hantavirus-infected rodents in the Americas, and continually reviewing the effect and utility of these recommendations as additional epidemiologic, field, and laboratory data become available. Key measures to prevent hantavirus infection include:
- Avoiding contact with rodents and their droppings
- Properly cleaning rodent-infested areas using disinfectants and protective equipment
- Eliminating rodent habitats around homes
- Rodent-proofing human dwellings
- Cleaning up rodent-contaminated areas and dead rodents
- Working safely in homes of persons with confirmed hantavirus infection or buildings with heavy rodent infestations.
From the Research
Definition and Characteristics of Hantavirus
- Hantaviruses are enveloped single-stranded ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses that belong to the family Bunyaviridae 2, 3.
- They are tri-segmented lipid-enveloped RNA viruses 4.
- Hantaviruses are widely distributed and maintained in populations of specific insectivores or rodent host species (mice or rats) 2.
Transmission and Hosts
- Transmission to humans occurs via direct contact with faeces, urine and saliva of infected rodents, in particular by inhaling virus contaminated aerosol 2, 3.
- Each hantavirus is primarily associated with a single rodent host species or genus 3.
- Hantaviruses can be transmitted from person to person, but only in the case of Andes hantavirus 5.
Clinical Presentations
- Hantavirus infection can cause two main clinical presentations: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) 3, 6.
- HFRS is caused by infection with Hantaan, Seoul, Dobrava/Belgrade, and Puumala hantaviruses 3.
- HPS is caused by any of several hantavirus species associated with indigenous New World rodents of the subfamily Sigmodontinae, family Muridae 3.
- Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) is another clinical syndrome associated with hantaviruses, which occurs in the North America, Central America and South America 4.
Symptoms and Treatment
- Common symptoms of hantavirus infection include fever, myalgia, thrombocytopenia, neutrophilia, and a profound capillary leak syndrome associated with hypotension, decreased cardiac output, and shock 3.
- Treatment of hantavirus infections is mainly supportive and involves intensive medical care 2, 6.
- There is no specific effective antiviral treatment available for hantavirus infections 6, 5.
- Rodent control and public health education and promotion play a major role in preventing Hantavirus infection 6.