Hantavirus: A Rare but Serious Rodent-Borne Threat
Dr. Yomani Sarathkumara, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Queensland, stated that hantavirus infections are rare in humans and are often misdiagnosed in tropical countries as other infections such as leptospirosis.
Orthohantaviruses, commonly known as hantaviruses, are a group of viruses primarily found in rodents that can infect humans. According to Prof. Adam Taylor of Lancaster University, at least 38 hantavirus species have been identified globally, with 24 causing disease in humans. Rodents such as mice, rats, and voles serve as natural reservoirs.
Transmission
Hantaviruses spread to humans via inhalation of or contact with infected rodent faeces, urine, and saliva, or more rarely through bites and scratches from contaminated animals. Agricultural communities are at higher risk due to increased exposure to infected rodents.
"Hantaviruses are typically an environmental exposure linked to rodents and do not spread easily from person to person like influenza or COVID-19."
— Associate Prof. Vinod Balasubramaniam, Monash University Malaysia
Symptoms and Lineages
Two major lineages exist: old world hantaviruses (Europe and Asia) and new world hantaviruses (the Americas).
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Old world hantaviruses (e.g., Puumala, Hantaan, Seoul viruses) typically cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) , affecting the kidneys. Symptoms include intense headaches, back and abdominal pain, fever, and potential kidney damage.
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New world hantaviruses (e.g., Andes virus) usually cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) , a rapidly progressive respiratory condition leading to respiratory failure. Early symptoms include flu-like symptoms (fever, fatigue, muscle aches), making early diagnosis difficult.
Incubation and Human-to-Human Transmission
The incubation period ranges from one to eight weeks. According to Taylor, a small number of studies have documented human-to-human spread of the Andes strain in South America, but a systematic review found insufficient evidence for sustained human-to-human transmission.
Recent Event
In March 2025, Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, died in their Santa Fe home from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Her husband, who had Alzheimer's, subsequently died in her absence.