Hantavirus
Orthohantavirus · Hantaviridae
Strains
- Andes virus (ANDV)
- Sin Nombre virus (SNV)
- Puumala virus (PUUV)
- Seoul virus (SEOV)
- Hantaan virus (HTNV)
Transmission
- Inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta (urine, droppings, saliva)
- Direct contact with rodents or contaminated surfaces
- Bite from infected rodent (rare)
- Andes virus only: limited human-to-human transmission via close prolonged contact
Incubation
1-8 weeks (typically 2-4 weeks)
Mortality rate
30-40% for Andes virus pulmonary syndrome (HPS); 1-15% for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS)
Vaccine
No
Treatment
No specific antiviral. Supportive intensive care: oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation, ECMO in severe cases. Early hospitalization improves outcomes.
Vaccine status
No WHO-approved hantavirus vaccine as of May 2026. Inactivated vaccines used in South Korea and China for HFRS strains, not for ANDV/SNV.
Endemic regions
- Argentina, Chile, Brazil (Andes virus — HPS)
- United States (Sin Nombre virus — HPS, especially Four Corners region)
- Northern Europe, Scandinavia, Baltic states (Puumala — HFRS)
- China, Korea, Russia (Hantaan, Seoul — HFRS)
- Western Europe (Puumala — limited)
Frequently asked questions
transmission
Can hantavirus spread from human to human?
transmission
What is the incubation period of hantavirus?
geography
Has hantavirus ever caused outbreaks in China?
general
What is the current real-time status of the hantavirus outbreak?
symptoms
How do hantavirus symptoms differ from the flu?
comparison
Hantavirus vs Ebola: 7 Differences (2026 Tracker)
Compare to other viruses
Hantavirus vs COVID-19: a side-by-side comparison
Hantavirus and COVID-19 are different in nearly every dimension that matters for pandemic potential. Here's how they compare on transmission, mortality, treatment, and historical impact.
Hantavirus vs Ebola: comparing two high-mortality viruses
Both hantavirus and Ebola have alarming case fatality rates, but they differ in transmission, geography, and outbreak dynamics.
Sources
Last update May 7, 2026 · ⚠ Not medical advice.