Treatment and outlook

According to WHO, there is no approved specific antiviral treatment for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Care is fundamentally supportive: oxygen, careful fluid management, mechanical ventilation when needed, and hemodynamic support in intensive care. Early recognition and rapid transfer to a hospital with intensive care capacity improve outcomes substantially. Reported case-fatality rates in HPS can reach 25% or more, while HFRS varies depending on the virus strain — from less than 1% for Puumala virus to higher rates for Hantaan and Dobrava viruses. Recovery, when it happens, can be slow and may include lingering fatigue, reduced exercise tolerance, and pulmonary findings for weeks to months.