Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a type of virus that infect rodents but does not cause diseases in them. And, when getting entry into humans can cause some serious infections.

Genome

What is Hantavirus? This is a burning question these days.

Well, it is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the Hantaviridae family of viruses.

The member of this family is called Orthohantaviruses or in short Hantavirus. They can produce disease with various symptoms.

Hantavirus is a rare but serious infection caused by a group of viruses carried by rodents. It can lead to life-threatening diseases in humans, such as Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS). These diseases have high fatality rates if not detected early, making awareness crucial.

With increasing global travel, urbanization, and human interaction with wildlife, the risk of hantavirus outbreaks has gained more attention in public health research. Reliable organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) provide regular updates on the virus, prevention, and treatment.

The Virus

Hantavirus is part of the Bunyaviridae family of viruses. Humans can become infected after contact with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva. Unlike many viral infections, hantavirus is not typically spread from person to person (except in rare cases with the Andes virus).

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Primarily found in the Americas.
Causes severe respiratory illness.
Symptoms can rapidly progress to respiratory failure.

Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)

Mostly found in Europe and Asia.
Characterized by fever, internal bleeding, and kidney dysfunction.

History and Global Spread

The first recognized outbreak of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome occurred in 1993 in the Four Corners region of the United States. Researchers linked it to the deer mouse. Since then, isolated outbreaks have been reported in North and South America.

In Asia, HFRS has been present for centuries, particularly in China, Russia, and Korea. Today, cases continue to emerge worldwide, emphasizing the importance of global health monitoring.

How Do Humans Get Infected?

Humans usually become infected through direct or indirect contact with infected rodents.

Common Transmission Pathways

Inhalation: Breathing in virus particles from rodent urine or droppings.
Direct Contact: Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, eyes, or nose.
Bites: Rare, but possible through rodent bites.
Food Contamination: Eating food contaminated by rodents.

Risky Environments

Farms and barns.
Abandoned houses or cabins.
Forests and camping areas.
Construction and cleaning sites where droppings may be disturbed.

Symptoms of Hantavirus Infection

The symptoms vary depending on the strain of hantavirus and the disease it causes.

Early Symptoms

Fever
Fatigue
Muscle aches
Headache
Dizziness

Advanced Symptoms (HPS)

Shortness of breath
Dry cough
Fluid buildup in the lungs
Low blood pressure
Shock

Symptoms of HFRS

High fever
Intense headaches
Back and abdominal pain
Nausea and vomiting
Kidney failure in severe cases

Diagnosis of Hantavirus

Early diagnosis is difficult because symptoms resemble flu or pneumonia.

Diagnostic Methods

Blood tests: Detect antibodies against hantavirus.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction): Identifies viral genetic material.
Chest X-rays: Reveal fluid accumulation in the lungs.

Doctors must rely on epidemiological history (recent travel, rodent exposure) alongside medical tests for accurate diagnosis.

Treatment Options

Currently, there is no specific antiviral drug approved for hantavirus infection. Treatment focuses on supportive care.

Medical Care Includes:

Oxygen therapy for breathing support.
Mechanical ventilation in severe respiratory distress.
Intravenous fluids for hydration.
Careful monitoring of kidney function.

Experimental Treatments

Ribavirin, an antiviral drug, has shown some effectiveness in HFRS cases but not in HPS. Researchers continue to investigate new therapies.

For updated treatment guidelines, refer to the CDC Hantavirus Treatment page.

Prevention of Hantavirus Infection

Since there is no vaccine for hantavirus, prevention is the best strategy.

Steps to Reduce Risk

Avoid contact with rodents and rodent-infested areas.
Seal cracks and holes in homes to prevent rodent entry.
Store food in sealed containers.
Use gloves and masks when cleaning rodent droppings.
Keep campsites clean and free from rodents.

Workplace Safety

Workers in agriculture, forestry, and construction face higher risks. Employers must implement protective measures, including:

Training workers on hantavirus risks.
Providing masks and protective gear.
Ensuring proper sanitation in workplaces.

Global Impact of Hantavirus

Hantavirus infections are rare but carry high mortality rates. HPS has a fatality rate of around 38%, while HFRS ranges from 1% to 15% depending on the strain.

Economic Burden

Hospitalization and intensive care are costly.
Lost productivity due to illness and recovery.
Public health systems require significant resources during outbreaks.

Research and Public Health Initiatives

Continuous monitoring of rodent populations.
Educational campaigns in high-risk regions.
Collaboration between governments, NGOs, and global health organizations.

Hantavirus vs. Other Viral Diseases

Hantavirus infections differ significantly from other respiratory illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, and RSV.

Key Differences

Hantavirus originates from rodents, not human-to-human transmission (except Andes virus).
HPS develops more rapidly than typical viral pneumonia.
Treatment is mainly supportive, unlike influenza where antivirals may be used.

Hantavirus Outbreaks in History

Four Corners Outbreak (1993, USA)

First major recorded outbreak of HPS.
Caused by deer mice in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah.

Argentina Outbreak (1996)

First human-to-human transmission recorded with the Andes virus.

Asia and Europe Cases

Russia and China still report thousands of HFRS cases annually.

The Future of Hantavirus Research

Researchers are working on developing vaccines and targeted therapies. Advances in genetic sequencing and molecular biology may help predict outbreaks and create new preventive strategies.

International collaboration remains critical in identifying rodent reservoirs and preventing large-scale outbreaks.

Is it a Mouse drooping disease?

The virus is found in the rodents like rats, mice, etc but they don’t harm them. Drooping means poop, feces, or stool. Viruses are present in rodents’ saliva, urine, and drooping.

As rodents, mostly mice or rats are found in the surrounding humans, some people also called it “mouse poop disease”.

Because the rodent (commonly rats and mice) are involved in producing the hantavirus disease, so are called hantavirus mice or hantavirus rats.

Do house mice carry Hantavirus?

Not all mice carry this virus. In the united states, most commonly, white-footed mice, deer mice, cotton rats, and rice rats carry hantavirus.

Only 15-20% of the above-mentioned rodents carry Hantavirus.

How long does Hantavirus live in droppings?

The virus can live in the environment for 2-3 days at room temperature

Hantavirus transmission -how does this occur in humans?

The chances of infections are more in rural areas where rodents may be present in abundance.

So home and workplaces where rodents are more, people are at greater risk of catching Hantavirus.

The virus is usually transmitted to humans by inhalation of contaminated air.

This process is called airborne transmission. Actually, small droplets from rodents’ urine, drooping, and saliva may form small airborne droplets. In this way, Hantavirus is transmitted to humans via aerosolization.

There are some other ways of virus transmission to humans like,

Rodents bite (though, it is rare)
By eating contaminated food
By touching drooping, urine, and saliva and then touching their mouth and nose.

There are many types of Hantaviruses but the majority of them do not produce diseases in humans.

What are Hantavirus symptoms in humans?

Hantaviruses can affect mainly two human body systems.

Hantavirus hemorrhagic fevers with renal syndrome-HFRS

This is caused by “old-world Hantavirus” and is more common in Asia and Europe. Initially, the symptoms may include fever, chills nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, etc. Later bleeding may occur in various parts of the body including under the skin. Low blood pressure may occur. Later, kidney dysfunction may peruse.

Who is at greater risk?

All healthy humans are at risk. Some people and professionals are at greater risk which may include;

People in the rural setting

This is because of more chances of rodents present in that area. Many stores and warehouses are present in rural areas to store foodstuff, so chances are more there.

Cleaning activities in vacant Buildings

This may include storerooms, basements, garages, cabins, etc, that have been closed for a long time. These sites are a possible risk for Hantavirus infections. So care must be taken while cleaning unoccupied dwellings.

Professional

Some people like researchers dealing with rodents, Cleaners, utilities, farmers, construction, etc have more chances of contact with rodents and thus infection.

Campers/Hikers

Living in cabins, and huts, which are unoccupied for a long time, particularly near forests and fields.

Hantavirus treatment-what are the possibilities?

There is no specific treatment to date. Only supportive therapy is provided to the patients. Serious cases must be admitted to the hospital with intensive care support.

The use of antiviral drugs hasn’t proved to be effective yet.

Are any long-term complications?

It is observed that people who suffered from the new world virus recover completely if they don’t have any secondary infections or any other complications. It doesn’t lead to any chronic infection in humans.

For some people that have low immunity, the infection may last longer but the virus itself doesn’t pose any longer effects on humans.

What is Prevention?

Hantavirus is best prevented by minimizing contact with rodents with humans. So care must be taken at all places like home. offices, educational institutes, old age homes, and other places where humans may be present.

You must prevent all the ways through which rodents can get entry into homes like closing holes and cracks. Another option is keeping predators like cats at home so that they can reduce the chances of rodents’ presence at home.

The virus can survive for 2-3 days at room temperature. Sunlight can destroy viruses in a few hours. So proper ventilation along with proper cleaning of rodent droppings or urine is essential to minimize the survival of viruses.

Vaccine

FDA hasn’t approved any vaccine yet. However, Vaccine against a few viruses is being used in South Korea and China. Research is still underway.

Epidemiology

This virus is present in all Humans occupied continents except Australia.

Hantavirus in America

In the year 1993 in May, an outbreak occurred in the southwestern United States with some unexplained pulmonary illness. Within a short period, investigators discovered that five young healthy people had died after acute respiratory failure. By November the specific Hantavirus that caused the outbreak was isolated. Since then virus outbreaks have occurred in several places across the US.

The most common Hantaviruses in the US are;

Sin Nombre orthohantavirus
New York orthohantavirus
Bayou orthohantavirus
Black Creek Canal orthohantavirus

From 1995 to 2017, 728 cases of Hantavirus had been reported in 36 states of the US. Hantavirus cases are mainly reported in the United States from New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, California, Washington, Texas, Montana, Utah, Idaho, and Oregon. Hantavirus in Michigan is also reported in Washtenaw County recently. A female was hospitalized with a fatal pulmonary illness from Sin Nombre hantavirus. She was probably exposed while cleaning an unoccupied home.

Death Ratio

The death ratio remained at about 36% of all reported cases.

Luckily, the types of virus that cause HPS in the US are not transmitted from person to person like by touching or kissing.

But in South America, the countries like Argentina and Chile, there are few cases where viruses had transmitted from person-to-person

Canada

Most of the cases in Canada were due to the “Nombre Virus” and the culprit for transmitting was ‘deer mice’. A total of 109 cases were reported in Canada from 1989 to 2014 with a death ratio of 29%. Most of the cases were from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. The majority of cases were linked to the farming and domestic setting.

South America

Among the viruses found in South America, the most prominent one is Andes Virus. It is also known as Castelo de Sonhos ( Portuguese for “Castle of Dreams”), Oran, Juquitiba, Lechiguanas, Araraquara, and Bermejo virus. This is the only Hantavirus that can be transmitted from person to person.

Europe

Two types of virus i.e., “dobrava Belgrade” and “puumala” affect people in most European regions except the Mediterranean. Yellow-necked mouse and striped field and blacked sea mouse is the host for these viruses.

Asia

In Asia, China, the Korean peninsula, Hong Kong, and Russia are affected by viruses. The major culprit remaining in these countries are Puumula, hantaan, and Seoul viruses.

Australia and New Zealand

These are countries where this virus is not found. One of the reasons may be that rodents have antibodies against viruses.

Africa

A type of hantavirus called Sangassou virus is most common in Africa that was isolated in 2010.

Brief History

In 1931, a clinical case was detected in northeast China. Just about the same time in the 1930s, it was also identified in Sweden. Infection with Hantavirus came to the detection of Western physicians during the Korean War.

During this war, between 1951 and 1954 more than 3,000 UNO soldiers became victims of the outbreak. In the United States in 1993, an outbreak occurred, and after that sin nombre orthohantavirus was found. Since then, about 43 types are sound referred to as the “New World Hantaviruses”.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can hantavirus spread from person to person?

In most cases, no. However, the Andes virus in South America can spread through close contact.

2. What is the survival rate of hantavirus?

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome has a fatality rate of around 38%. Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome ranges from 1–15%.

3. How quickly do hantavirus symptoms appear?

Symptoms usually develop between 1 to 8 weeks after exposure.

4. Is there a vaccine for hantavirus?

Currently, there is no widely available vaccine, although research is ongoing in China and Korea.

5. How can I protect myself while camping?

Keep food sealed, dispose of waste properly, and avoid sleeping near rodent-infested areas. Always clean with disinfectant.

Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you suspect hantavirus infection or have been exposed to rodents in an area with known cases, consult a healthcare provider immediately. Always follow guidelines from trusted organizations like the CDC and WHO.