Hantaviruses are a family of viruses carried by rodents that can cause serious disease in people, including hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

How does hantavirus spread?

Most hantavirus infections are linked to contact with urine, droppings, saliva, or contaminated materials from infected rodents. Andes virus is a notable hantavirus with documented limited person-to-person transmission.

Is there a specific treatment for hantavirus?

There is no specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus infection. Early medical evaluation and supportive care are important, especially when respiratory symptoms develop.

Hantavirus Knowledge Base

Hantavirus: verified symptoms, transmission and outbreak intelligence

HantaWorld tracks verified hantavirus outbreak information and provides plain-English context for readers, researchers and public health observers.

What is hantavirus?

Hantaviruses are rodent-borne viruses that can cause severe disease in humans. In the Americas, infection may lead to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome or hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome; in Europe and Asia, some hantaviruses are associated with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

How hantavirus spreads

Most human infections are linked to exposure to infected rodents or contaminated dust, surfaces, urine, droppings, or saliva. Andes virus, found in South America, is the main hantavirus known for documented limited person-to-person transmission through close contact.

Symptoms and prevention

Early symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, fatigue, headache and gastrointestinal symptoms. Severe disease may progress to cough, shortness of breath and respiratory distress. Prevention focuses on reducing contact with rodents and safely cleaning areas where rodent contamination may be present.

Hantavirus symptoms guide Andes virus explained Live hantavirus outbreak map

Sources: CDC Hantavirus, CDC Prevention, WHO Hantavirus Fact Sheet.

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Symptoms and prevention