Hantavirus Infection Overview
Learn About Hantavirus Infection
Hantavirus is a life-threatening viral infection spread to humans by rodents.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome; Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome
Hantavirus is carried by rodents, particularly deer mice. The virus is found in their urine and feces, but it does not make the animal sick.
It is believed that humans can get sick with this virus if they breathe in contaminated dust from mice nests or droppings. You may come in contact with such dust when cleaning homes, sheds, or other enclosed areas that have been empty for a long time.
Hantavirus does not seem to spread from human to human.
The early symptoms of hantavirus disease are similar to the flu and include:
- Chills
- Fever
- Muscle aches
People with hantavirus may begin to feel better for a very short time. But within 1 to 2 days, it becomes hard to breathe. The disease gets worse quickly. Symptoms include:
- Dry cough
- General ill feeling (malaise)
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Shortness of breath
People with hantavirus are admitted to the hospital, often to the intensive care unit (ICU).
Treatments include:
- Oxygen
- Breathing tube or breathing machine (mechanical ventilation) in severe cases
- Special machines to add oxygen to the blood
- Other supportive care to treat symptoms
There are no antivirals that work against hantavirus.
Detlev Kruger practices in Berlin, Germany. Mr. Kruger is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Hantavirus Infection. His top areas of expertise are Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Hantavirus Infection, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever, and Chickenpox.
Peter Witkowski practices in Berlin, Germany. Mr. Witkowski is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Hantavirus Infection. His top areas of expertise are Hantavirus Infection, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever, and Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever.
Boris Klempa practices in Bratislava, Slovakia. Mr. Klempa is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Hantavirus Infection. His top areas of expertise are Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Hantavirus Infection, Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever, and Kyasanur Forest Disease.
Hantavirus is a serious infection that gets worse quickly. Lung failure can occur and may lead to death. Even with aggressive treatment, 38% of people who have this disease in their lungs die.
Complications of hantavirus may include:
- Kidney failure
- Heart and lung failure
These complications can lead to death.
Contact your provider if you develop flu-like symptoms after you come in contact with rodent droppings or rodent urine, or dust that is contaminated with these substances.
Avoid exposure to rodent urine and droppings.
- Drink disinfected water.
- When camping, sleep on a ground cover and pad.
- Keep your home clean. Clear out potential nesting sites and clean your kitchen.
If you must work in an area where contact with rodent urine or feces is possible, follow these recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- When opening an unused cabin, shed, or other building, open all the doors and windows, leave the building, and allow the space to air out for 30 minutes.
- Return to the building and spray the surfaces, carpet, and other areas with a disinfectant. Leave the building for another 30 minutes.
- Spray mouse nests and droppings with a 10% solution of chlorine bleach or similar disinfectant. Allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Using rubber gloves, place the materials in plastic bags. Seal the bags and throw them in the trash or an incinerator. Dispose of gloves and cleaning materials in the same way.
- Wash all potentially contaminated hard surfaces with a bleach or disinfectant solution. Avoid vacuuming until the area has been thoroughly decontaminated. Then, vacuum the first few times with enough ventilation. Surgical masks may provide some protection.
- If you have a heavy infestation of rodents, call a pest control company. They have special cleanup equipment and methods.
Summary: Hantavirus disease are zoonotic infections and remain a clinical challenge with globally increasing incidence and multiple serious outbreak situations in Europe within the last years. Hantavirus disease encompasses two clinical syndromes, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) caused by Old World and New World hantaviruses, respectively. Dependi...
Published Date: February 05, 2025
Published By: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Roy and Diana Vagelos Professor in Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, New York, NY. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Bausch DG, Kaiser L. Viral hemorrhagic fevers. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 351.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Hantavirus. www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/index.html. Updated May 13, 2024. Accessed February 17, 2025.
Dolin R. California encephalitis, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, hantavirus hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, and bunyavirus hemorrhagic fevers. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 166.