What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses can cause breathing problems, kidney failure and, in some cases, can be fatal. What are they, where do they spread and how can you prevent them?


Hantavirus symptoms

When to worry about hantavirus

Who is at risk of hantavirus?

Ways to prevent hantavirus infection

Hantavirus outbreaks

Key points



Different types of rodents carry different viruses, so people tend to develop different hantavirus diseases around the world.

People usually catch hantaviruses by breathing in virus particles released into the air from the urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents. Hantaviruses are also sometimes spread by bites from infected animals and in very rare cases can spread between people.

There are 2 main groups of Hantaviruses: ‘New World’ and ‘Old World’.

‘New World’ hantaviruses are found in the Americas and can cause a lung disease called hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). This is a rare illness that can cause the lungs to fill with fluid.

‘Old World’ hantaviruses are common in Europe, Asia and Africa and can cause bleeding disorders that also affect the kidneys. This type of illness is known as haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). 

It’s thought that about 150,000 people every year develop HFRS, with most of these infections taking place in China. 

## Hantavirus symptoms

Disease symptoms vary depending on the type of hantavirus you catch, and some people may have no symptoms at all.

 ![Close up of a mouse outside (credit - kahj19)](//images.ctfassets.net/iqo3fk8od6t9/41Nvuu3gj4p4RXRELK34M6/74cfb1d3ed59fba4b0aececc0de463a4/Close_up_of_a_mouse_outside__credit_-_kahj19_.jpg)

### Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

The mildest form of HFRS is called Nephropathia epidemica and is caused by the most common hantavirus, known as the Puumala virus. It can cause fever and muscle pains quickly. It can also reduce the number of tiny blood cells called platelets in your body, which are essential for blood clotting and healing. 

In some cases, Nephropathia epidemica can cause [short-sightedness](https://www.livehealthily.com/eyesight-problems/short-sightedness) and occasionally it can make your kidneys fail. But more than 99% of people with the mild form of HFRS make a full recovery.

More severe forms of HFRS—caused by the Dobrova, Hantaan and Seoul viruses—can lead to blood escaping from your vessels. Howeer, more than 85% of people with severe HFRS recover. 

HFRS symptoms usually develop between 2 and 4 weeks after exposure, but can appear as quickly as 2 days or as late as 8 weeks after infection.

### Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS)

HPS cases are quite rare and people with the syndrome initially get flu-like symptoms such as muscle aches, fatigue and fever.

About half of people with HPS may:

- feel dizzy
- feel sick
- get chills
- vomit
- get tummy pain
- have diarrhoea 

Within about 4 to 10 days, other symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath may also appear.

But enough people haven’t developed HPS yet  for scientists to know exactly how long it takes for symptoms to appear. 

Health agencies like the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say they seem to start within 1 to 8 weeks of exposure and it estimates that 38% of people with HPS die.

 ![3D generated close up of hantavirus virus](//images.ctfassets.net/iqo3fk8od6t9/6NOuC5gRVvZIyJkmZy17wC/43ba70a64b533add988b024e1a20c2d5/3D_generated_close_up_of_hantavirus_virus.jpg)


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## When to worry about hantavirus

Because hantavirus disease can be severe and even fatal, it’s important to see a doctor straight away if you have been around rodents and have fever, muscle aches or severe shortness of breath.

There aren’t any specific vaccines or treatments for hantavirus diseases, but certain therapies can still improve your chances of recovery.

People with HPS may be given oxygen therapy in an intensive care unit if they have serious difficulty breathing.

People with severe HFRS may be given a treatment called [dialysis](https://www.livehealthily.com/dialysis)if their kidneys are failing. This removes waste, salt and excess water from the body.


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## Who is at risk of hantavirus?

People who handle rodents or come into contact with them as part of their job are more likely to catch a hantavirus.

You may be at a higher risk if you:

- own a pet rat
- work with pet rats
- go camping or hiking
- work on a farm
- work in a forest
- work in pest control

 ![Young woman putting on face mask outdoors](//images.ctfassets.net/iqo3fk8od6t9/19dtvt7k5CofYS4tLOnr92/7d7fde63420160f338712b8aa85568d4/Young_woman_putting_on_face_mask_outdoors.jpg)


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## Ways to prevent hantavirus infection

There are many ways you can reduce your risk of hantavirus infection. You can:

- wash your hands after handling rodents or cleaning up their droppings. 
- put alcohol, disinfectant and bleach on areas with rodent droppings to kill any viruses and stop dust rising during cleaning. 
- [wear a face mask](/coronavirus/which-type-of-face-mask-should-i-wear) to help stop you from breathing in dust containing the virus. 
- put down traps and seal any holes inside or outside your home or workplace if rodents can get in
- clean up food to help prevent rats


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## Hantavirus outbreaks

Scientists first recognised hantavirus during the Korean War in the 1950s, when 3,000 United Nations soldiers developed HFRS. It’s estimated that around 150,000 people develop HFRS each year, mostly in China.

HPS is far less common. A major outbreak took place in the 4 Corners’ region of the US — Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico — in 1993. Thirteen people died during this outbreak after developing HPS from the ‘Sin Nombre’ hantavirus, which is carried by deer mice.

But fewer than 750 cases were reported in the US and Canada in the 2 decades following this outbreak. Since 2000, HPS outbreaks have occured in Panama, Argentina and in Yosemite National Park in the US. The most recent outbreak occurred from October 2018 to January 2019 in Argentina.

It’s important to remember, however, that HPS cases are quite rare and tend to affect people who come into contact with rodent droppings at home or at work. Taking precautions to limit how often you come into contact with rodents and where they live can help to protect you from infection. 

If you are infected you should see a doctor as soon as possible to reduce your risk of developing severe disease.

## Key points

- hantaviruses are carried by rodents
- they are found across most of the world
- they can cause two serious illnesses: Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
- both illnesses vary in severity, but can be deadly
- to protect yourself, minimise your exposure to rodents and wash your hands after contact with them

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References

Katherine Hignett

Meera Senthilingam

Healthily's medical team

Article information

All of Healthily's articles undergo medical safety checks to verify that the information is medically safe. View more details in our <a href="/safety" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">safety page</a>, or read our <a href="/legal/editorial-policy-principles" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">editorial policy</a>.

Hantaviruses can cause breathing problems, kidney failure and, in some cases, can be fatal. What are they, where do they spread and how can you prevent them?

Woman with breathing problems sitting on a couch in the living room at home (Credit - AntonioGuillem)