HFRS — Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (severe form)

Hantaan virus (HTNV)

Hantaan virus is the prototype hantavirus and the cause of severe HFRS in East Asia. It remains a leading cause of hospitalised infectious nephritis in rural China and Korea.

Primary rodent host
Striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius)
Geographic range
China, South Korea, eastern Russia
Case-fatality rate
5 to 15 percent
Incubation
2 to 4 weeks
Discovered
1976, near the Hantan River, Korean Peninsula

Transmission

Inhalation of dust contaminated with rodent excreta in agricultural and military settings. No documented person-to-person spread.

Key facts

  • Causes the severe classical HFRS with hypotensive shock, oliguria and hemorrhage
  • China NHC and Korea KDCA report tens of thousands of HFRS cases annually
  • An inactivated vaccine is licensed and widely used in mainland China and Korea
  • Rodent control around housing and farms is the main prevention measure

Reporting agencies

China NHCKorea KDCAWHO
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.