Symptome
Hantavirus-Symptome und wann man Hilfe suchen sollte
Hantavirus kann wie eine Grippe beginnen und sich dann zu einer schweren Atemwegserkrankung entwickeln. Erfahren Sie mehr über frühe Symptome, Warnzeichen und was Sie nach möglicher Exposition einem Arzt mitteilen sollten.
If you have rodent or pet rat exposure — or were a contact of a confirmed Andes-virus case — and develop fever followed by sudden shortness of breath, seek emergency care immediately. Tell the clinical team about your exposure on arrival.
Incubation period
Symptoms typically begin 7 to 39 days after exposure for Andes virus (median 14–17 days) and 1 to 8 weeks for Sin Nombre virus (median 2–4 weeks). Patients are usually asymptomatic during the incubation period.
Typical illness timeline
The severe form, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, can be life-threatening even with intensive care.
Early phase (Day 1–5)
Common symptoms: sudden fever, severe muscle aches, headache, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhoea. It can look like flu or a stomach illness at first.
What to do: call a healthcare provider if you had possible exposure. Tell them about rodent contact, travel, cruise-ship exposure or contact with a confirmed case.
Warning sign: fever plus a known exposure should be taken seriously, even before breathing symptoms begin.
Breathing phase (Day 5–7)
Emergency symptoms: sudden shortness of breath, dry cough, chest tightness, dizziness, confusion or low blood pressure. Deterioration can happen within hours.
Care needed: emergency evaluation and intensive supportive care. There is no simple home treatment for this phase.
People with exposure history and new breathing problems should seek emergency care immediately.
Recovery phase
What can happen: breathing and circulation improve, often quickly once the crisis phase is over.
Care: continued hospital monitoring while fluids, breathing support and strength recover.
After hospital care
Recovery: fatigue and shortness of breath with exertion can last for weeks or months.
Follow-up: follow the care plan from your medical team and return for breathing or strength checks if advised.
What healthcare providers may check
- Exposure history: rodent contact, travel to affected areas, cruise-ship exposure, or contact with a confirmed Andes-virus case.
- Blood tests: tests that look for signs of recent hantavirus infection.
- Molecular tests: tests that can identify hantavirus genetic material in blood early in illness.
- Chest imaging: X-ray or CT if breathing symptoms appear.
When to suspect HPS in 2026
Maintain a low threshold for testing in any febrile patient with the following exposure history reported within the previous six weeks:
- Cruise-ship travel to or from South American ports — particularly the MV Hondius itinerary covered by WHO Disease Outbreak News.
- Close household contact or healthcare contact with a confirmed Andes-virus case.
- Recent rodent exposure in an endemic region (Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, southwestern United States, western Canada).
- Cleaning of long-closed rural buildings, cabins, sheds or storage areas with visible rodent activity.
Other hantavirus presentations
Old World hantaviruses cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), a kidney-centred illness endemic in East Asia, Russia and parts of Europe. HFRS is not part of the current outbreak response. Readers who want more detail can refer to the Strains page (Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, Dobrava).
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only and does not replace clinical judgement. Follow national clinical guidelines and consult specialists in infectious disease and intensive care for case management.