Hantavirus Disease: An Emerging and Re-Emerging Viral Disease of Public Health Concern

Mahendra Pal^1, and Kirubel Paulos Gutama²

¹Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology, B-103, Sapphire Lifestyle, Bharuch 392012, Gujarat, India

²Adaba Woreda Livestock and Fishery Resource Development Office, West Arsi, Ethiopia

Cite this paper:
Mahendra Pal and Kirubel Paulos Gutama. Hantavirus Disease: An Emerging and Re-Emerging Viral Disease of Public Health Concern. American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology. 2024; 12(1):19-22. doi: 10.12691/ajidm-12-1-4

Abstract

Emergence and re-emergence of viral zoonoses pose a serious threat to human and animal health. Hantaviruses are enveloped negative (-) single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to Hantaviridae family, which are transmitted to humans through inhalation and are harbored by small rodents. Humans can develop two clinical syndromes as a result of hantavirus infection: haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), which are caused by Old World and New World hantaviruses, respectively. Infections with the hantavirus are rather common in peoples in parts of Asia, Europe, and South America, although they appear to be less common in North America. Globally, 200,000 peoples are affected with Hantaviruses every year. The clinical manifestations of HFRS range from asymptomatic to mild to moderate to severe. In general, HFRS produced by Hantaan, Amur, and Dobrava viruses is more severe, with fatality rates ranging from 5 to 15%, whereas Seoul, Puumala, and Saaremaa viruses induce mild types of disease with mortality rates of less than 1%, resulting in HCPS. For hantavirus identification, a variety of techniques are utilized, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), focus reduction neutralization test (FRNT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblot assay (IBA), immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and other molecular approaches. Because no effective medication or vaccination has been licensed by the FDA, the greatest defense is to avoid contact with rodents and clean up rodent habitats safely.

Keywords:
epidemiology hantavirus hanta virus disease prevention public health zoonosis

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