Educational reference on hantavirus biology, transmission, strains, and public health context. Data sourced from CDC, WHO, and peer-reviewed literature.
Hantaviruses belong to the order Bunyavirales, genus Orthohantavirus. They are a group of RNA viruses transmitted primarily by rodents that cause two distinct clinical syndromes in humans:
Over 40 known hantavirus species have been identified, of which approximately 20 cause disease in humans. Each pathogenic strain is associated with a specific rodent reservoir host.
The virus is named after the Hantan River in South Korea, where the causative agent of Korean hemorrhagic fever was first isolated by Dr. Ho Wang Lee in 1978. However, the disease itself had been recognized for centuries in Asia and was documented among UN troops during the Korean War in the 1950s.
| Feature | HPS | HFRS |
|---|---|---|
| Primary region | Americas | Asia, Europe |
| Main strains | Sin Nombre, Andes, Choclo | Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, Dobrava |
| Case fatality rate | 36–40% (SNV), 33–40% (Andes) | <1% (Puumala) to 15% (Hantaan) |
| Primary organ affected | Lungs | Kidneys |
| Person-to-person | Only Andes virus | No |
| Vaccine available | None approved | Available in China / South Korea |
| Annual cases globally | Less common than HFRS in global reporting | Most reported global cases |
Hantavirus is transmitted to humans through four documented routes:
The primary transmission route. Breathing in dust contaminated with dried rodent urine, droppings, or nesting material. Disturbing rodent-contaminated spaces (sweeping, vacuuming, or entering closed structures) creates infectious aerosols.
PRIMARY ROUTETouching rodent excreta and then touching eyes, nose, or mouth, or contact through broken skin or mucous membranes.
SECONDARY ROUTETransmission through a bite from an infected rodent. Documented but considered rare.
RAREDocumented ONLY for Andes virus, usually after close and prolonged contact. The 2026 MV Hondius cluster involved Andes virus, but public reports should not be read as proof that every linked case was person-to-person.
ANDES ONLY| Strain | Region | Disease | CFR | Reservoir | P2P? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sin Nombre | Western US / Canada | HPS | ~36% | Deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) | No |
| Andes | Argentina, Chile | HPS | 33–40% | Long-tailed colilargo (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus) | YES |
| Choclo | Panama | HPS | Low | Pygmy rice rat (Oligoryzomys fulvescens) | No |
| Hantaan | China, Korea, Russia | HFRS | 5–15% | Striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) | No |
| Seoul | Worldwide | HFRS | ~1% | Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) | No |
| Puumala | Northern Europe | HFRS | <1% | Bank vole (Myodes glareolus) | No |
| Dobrava | Balkans | HFRS | Up to 12% | Yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) | No |
Certain populations face elevated risk of hantavirus exposure due to their proximity to rodent habitats:
People living in or near cabins, farms, sheds, and other rural structures where rodents nest.
Outdoor recreationists using trail shelters, backcountry cabins, or camping in rodent-endemic areas.
Workers in grain storage, hay barns, logging operations, and other agricultural environments.
People cleaning abandoned buildings, storage units, garages, or other long-vacant spaces with rodent activity.
Researchers and technicians handling live rodent specimens or hantavirus samples in laboratory settings.
There is no approved vaccine for HPS. Prevention focuses on reducing contact with rodents and their excreta. The following measures are recommended by the CDC:
There is no specific antiviral treatment approved for hantavirus infections. Clinical management is primarily supportive:
The single most important factor in HPS survival is early recognition and ICU admission. Patients who reach advanced cardiopulmonary phase before hospitalization have significantly worse outcomes.
The current vaccine landscape for hantavirus: