What is Hantavirus (Hanta virus)?

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, and the best approach for disease control and prevention is risk reduction through environmental modification and hygiene practices. It causes two main illnesses: Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in the Americas and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia. Symptoms typically begin 1-8 weeks after exposure and may initially resemble flu, including fever, muscle aches, headaches, and fatigue, before potentially progressing to severe respiratory distress in HPS or kidney problems in HFRS.

Key Facts About Hantavirus

• The virus is carried by the New World rats and mice, family Muridae, subfamily Sigmodontinae, which are widespread in North and South America 1.
• These wild rodents are not generally associated with urban environments, but some species will enter human habitation in rural and suburban areas 1.
• 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 eliminating rodent contact by sealing homes against rodents, properly cleaning rodent-infested areas with disinfectant, and avoiding activities that stir up dust in rodent-prone areas 1.
• The virus cannot spread from person to person in most cases, making environmental control the key prevention strategy.

Prevention Strategies

• Eradicating the reservoir hosts of hantaviruses is neither feasible nor desirable, so the best approach is risk reduction through environmental modification and hygiene practices 1.
• Simple and inexpensive methods, such as sealing homes against rodents and safe cleanup of rodent waste and nesting materials, are effective in preventing rodents from entering rural dwellings 1.
• Prevention is crucial and involves eliminating rodent contact, properly cleaning rodent-infested areas, and avoiding activities that stir up dust in rodent-prone areas.

From the Research

Definition and Transmission of Hantavirus

• Hantavirus infections are part of the broad group of viral haemorrhagic fevers 2
• They are recognized as a distinct model of an emergent zoonotic infection with a global distribution 2
• Transmission to humans occurs by exposure to infected rodents in endemic areas 2, 3
• Andes hantavirus is unique in that it can be transmitted from person to person 2

Clinical Syndromes Associated with Hantavirus

• The main clinical syndromes associated with hantaviruses are haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) 2, 4, 5
• HFRS is endemic in Europe and Asia, while HCPS is endemic in the Americas 2
• HCPS and HFRS are separate clinical entities, but they share several features and have many overlapping symptoms, signs, and pathogenic alterations 2

Pathogenesis and Disease Severity

• Hantaviruses target endothelial cells, affecting diverse organ systems 2
• Increased vascular permeability is central to pathogenesis 2, 4
• Disease severity in HFRS ranges from mild to moderate, while HCPS leads to a severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with high mortality rates 4
• Genetic vulnerability due to certain human leukocyte antigen haplotypes is associated with disease severity 4

Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

• Diagnosis of hantavirus infections in humans is based on clinical and epidemiological information as well as laboratory tests 3
• There are no specific effective antiviral treatments or vaccines approved in Europe or the USA 2, 4, 5
• Treatment remains primarily supportive, and depending on disease severity, more invasive measures may be needed 4, 5
• Rodent control and public health education and promotion play a major role in preventing Hantavirus infection 5