HFRS — Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (severe form)

Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV)

Dobrava-Belgrade virus causes the most severe form of HFRS in Europe. The Apodemus flavicollis lineage is associated with higher case-fatality than Puumala or the Apodemus agrarius lineage.

Primary rodent host
Yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) and striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius)
Geographic range
Balkans and Eastern Europe
Case-fatality rate
Up to 12 percent for the Apodemus flavicollis (DOBV-Af) lineage
Incubation
2 to 4 weeks
Discovered
1992, Dobrava, Slovenia

Transmission

Aerosolised rodent excreta in rural homes, sheds and forests. No documented person-to-person spread.

Key facts

  • Severe HFRS with bleeding, shock and acute kidney injury
  • Most reports come from Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Greece
  • Often confused with leptospirosis on initial clinical work-up
  • Surveillance is coordinated through ECDC and national health institutes

Reporting agencies

ECDCNIJZ SloveniaHZJZ Croatia
Sources: WHO, ECDC, U.S. CDC, PAHO and peer-reviewed virology and epidemiology literature.
Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for clinical advice.