How deadly is hantavirus?
"Hantavirus" is not a single disease — it is a genus of more than 40 viruses, each with a distinct rodent reservoir, geography, and lethality. Case-fatality ratios (CFR) span two orders of magnitude.
Case-fatality ratio by species (approximate)
| Pathogen | Syndrome | CFR | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andes virus (ANDV) | HPS | 30–40% | Argentina, Chile |
| Sin Nombre virus (SNV) | HPS | 35–40% | USA, Canada |
| Hantaan virus (HTNV) | HFRS (severe) | 10–15% | Korea, China |
| Dobrava virus (DOBV) | HFRS (severe) | 10–15% | Balkans |
| Seoul virus (SEOV) | HFRS (mild–moderate) | 1–2% | Worldwide (urban Rattus) |
| Puumala virus (PUUV) | HFRS (mild) | < 0.5% | Fennoscandia, Russia, Central Europe |
| Choclo virus (CHOV) | HPS | ~10% | Panama |
| Laguna Negra virus (LANV) | HPS | ~12–15% | Paraguay, Bolivia |
Two patterns explain the spread. First, the New World hantaviruses cause HPS — a vascular-leak syndrome in the lungs that demands intensive care. Second, the Old World hantaviruses cause HFRS, a renal syndrome whose severity correlates roughly with how closely the reservoir rodent lives with people: mouse-associated Hantaan and Dobrava are dangerous, while vole-associated Puumala is rarely lethal.
Outcome is strongly improved by early intensive care. Anyone with prodromal symptoms after rodent exposure should seek care immediately.
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