HPS and HFRS: One virus family, two diseases
Hantaviruses cause two clinically distinct syndromes. Geography is the determinant: your encounter risk varies by where you live or travel.
HPS — Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome
Found in the Americas. Primarily affects the lungs. Case fatality can reach approximately 38% per CDC data. Sin Nombre virus is the main agent in North America; Andes virus dominates in South America and is the only hantavirus with documented person-to-person transmission.
HFRS — Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome
Reported in Europe and Asia. Primarily affects the kidneys; severe cases involve hemorrhage and shock. Case fatality is approximately 1–15% depending on strain. Hantaan and Seoul viruses are common in Asia; in Europe, Puumala (mild) and Dobrava-Belgrade (severe, Balkans) dominate.
How hantavirus spreads
Hantaviruses circulate in wild rodents in nature. Rodents shed the virus through urine, droppings and saliva without becoming sick. Humans are almost entirely infected through environmental contact, not from other people.
- Inhalation of aerosolized dust contaminated with rodent droppings — the most common route during cleaning of enclosed sheds, cabins or barns.
- Direct contact with rodents or contaminated surfaces, then touching eyes, nose or mouth.
- Rarely, rodent bite.
- Person-to-person transmission is generally not documented; Andes virus in South America is the proven exception.
Where hantaviruses circulate
Hantavirus distribution maps closely to its rodent reservoirs. Six broad endemic zones are commonly referenced:
- Americas — Sin Nombre virus across the Four Corners region (US Southwest); Andes virus along the Patagonian corridor (Argentina/Chile); Araraquara in Brazil's cerrado.
- Europe — Puumala virus in the Nordic boreal forest belt; Dobrava-Belgrade in the Balkans; Tula sporadically in Central Europe.
- Asia — Hantaan and Seoul viruses across China and the Korean peninsula. Asia carries the highest global HFRS burden.
Who is at risk
Risk relates to exposure to rodent habitats. Typically high-risk groups:
- People living in rural settlements
- Hikers and campers
- Workers cleaning long-closed buildings
- Farm workers, barn cleaners
- Pest control professionals
- Researchers handling rodents in endemic-region laboratories
Prevention
Important protective measures:
- Seal possible entry points for rodents.
- Store food, garbage and pet food in tightly closed containers.
- Ventilate enclosed spaces for at least 30 minutes before cleaning.
- Wet droppings thoroughly with disinfectant or bleach before cleaning — never sweep or vacuum, which aerosolizes the virus.
- Wear gloves and an N95 mask during cleaning; wash hands afterward.
Diagnosis & vaccine status
Laboratory diagnosis is by serology or PCR. There is no licensed hantavirus vaccine in the US or EU. Inactivated vaccines against local strains are used in parts of China and South Korea.
Frequently asked questions
Where do most hantavirus cases occur?▾
Globally about 150,000–200,000 hospitalized HFRS cases per year, the vast majority in China. HPS in the Americas is in the few-hundreds per year, with Argentina, Chile and the US (Four Corners) reporting most.
Is the virus the same everywhere?▾
No. Each region has its own dominant strains and rodent reservoirs. Sin Nombre (US), Andes (Argentina/Chile), Puumala (Nordics), Dobrava (Balkans), Hantaan and Seoul (East Asia) — these are the major ones.
Can my dog or cat catch hantavirus?▾
There is no documented hantavirus disease in domestic dogs or cats. They can encounter infected rodents but are not significant reservoirs.
Is there a vaccine?▾
No vaccine is approved in the US or EU. China and South Korea use inactivated vaccines for regionally dominant strains in occupational and high-risk populations.
Track this in real time
Use the live HantaDash map for current signals from WHO, ECDC, ProMED and curated news.
View map →This page is for education and does not replace medical advice. If you have a suspected exposure or develop symptoms, consult a healthcare provider.