About Hantavirus
Educational reference based on official guidance from WHO and other public health authorities. This is not medical advice.
overview
What is hantavirus?
A family of rodent-borne viruses that can cause severe lung or kidney disease in humans.
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Symptoms of hantavirus infection
Early symptoms resemble the flu; severe disease can progress to respiratory or kidney failure.
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How hantavirus spreads
Mainly by inhaling aerosolized particles from rodent urine, droppings, or saliva.
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Prevention and safe cleaning
Ventilate, avoid dry sweeping, use damp cleaning, and wear gloves and a mask in infested areas.
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Treatment and outlook
No specific antiviral; care is supportive, with early ICU transfer for severe cases.
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Historical hantavirus outbreaks
A short timeline of major hantavirus events recognized since the 1990s.
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Andes virus: the South American hantavirus that can spread person-to-person
Andes virus (ANDV) is the only hantavirus with confirmed person-to-person transmission, mostly in southern Argentina and Chile.
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How to safely clean a building after a rodent infestation
Step-by-step protocol from CDC and WHO to disinfect spaces with rodent droppings without aerosolizing hantavirus.
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Hantavirus on cruise ships: what travelers should know
After the 2026 multi-country cruise cluster, here is what cruise passengers and operators can do to reduce hantavirus exposure.
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Hantavirus prevention for rural travelers and outdoor enthusiasts
Practical advice for hikers, hunters, farm visitors, and anyone spending time in rural areas where hantavirus circulates.
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HPS vs HFRS: the two faces of human hantavirus disease
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) differ in geography, dominant organ damage, and case fatality.
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Hantavirus in children: rare but distinct
Pediatric hantavirus cases are uncommon but can present subtly; here is what parents and clinicians should watch for.
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How hantavirus is diagnosed in the laboratory
Serology, RT-PCR, and reference labs — the diagnostic toolkit physicians use to confirm hantavirus.
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Hantavirus vaccines: where the research stands in 2026
Inactivated HFRS vaccines exist in Korea and China; HPS has no licensed vaccine. mRNA and DNA candidates are advancing.
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Frequently asked questions about hantavirus
Quick answers to the most common questions about hantavirus transmission, prevention, and risk.
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Deer mouse identification: how to recognize the main hantavirus reservoir
Visual and behavioral cues to distinguish the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) from house mice and other rodents.
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Hantavirus prevention checklist for campers and RV travelers
Action-by-action checklist to reduce hantavirus exposure when camping, sleeping in cabins, or traveling by RV in endemic regions.
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Workplace cleaning after rodent infestation: OSHA-aligned protocol
Step-by-step procedure for employers, building managers, and pest-control operators to clean offices, warehouses, and barns after a rodent infestation.
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Hantavirus in Argentina: Andes virus, regions at risk, and recent activity
Country-specific overview of hantavirus in Argentina — Andes virus, endemic provinces, person-to-person transmission, and the 2026 cruise cluster.
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Hantavirus vs COVID-19: how to tell the symptoms apart
A side-by-side symptom comparison between hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and COVID-19 to help recognize each disease early.
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