A group of viruses that infect mice, rats and voles and can also infect humans who come into contact with their excreta or secretions. Widely distributed in Asia, the USA and Europe, in Britain hantavirus usually affects rural and sewage workers, as well as people engaged in watersports. Many victims have a mild feverish illness; severe cases are characterized by headache, high temperature, nausea, vomiting and even shock, accompanied by skin petechiae. The kidneys and sometimes the lungs are affected, and in severely affected patients mortality is high.
A genus of viruses of the family Bunyaviridae, and the cause of epidemic hemorrhagic fever and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The natural reservoir is rodents. In the U.S., identified species of Hantavirus include the Bayou virus, Black creek virus, New York virus, and Sin Nombre virus. On other continents, epidemic hantaviruses include the Dobrava, Hantaan, Puumala, and Seoul viruses.
A collection of arboviruses that induce hemorrhagic fever, which is marked by abrupt onset, fever, body aches, and internal organ bleeding.
Hantavirus is a viral infection spread to humans via the urine or feces of infected rodents, primarily rats. The symptoms vary from a mild flu-like illness, including headaches and a sore throat, to more severe manifestations like high fever, nausea, vomiting, and abnormal bleeding. Certain strains of hantavirus can cause critical infections, potentially leading to kidney failure, severe lung damage, and even death.