Puumala virus (PUUV)
Puumala virus causes a mild form of HFRS known as nephropathia epidemica (NE). Most cases are reported from Fennoscandia, where bank vole population peaks every three to four years drive outbreak years.
- Primary rodent host
- Bank vole (Myodes glareolus)
- Geographic range
- Finland, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, France, Germany, Russia
- Case-fatality rate
- Less than 1 percent
- Incubation
- 2 to 6 weeks
- Discovered
- 1980, Puumala, Finland
Transmission
Inhalation of bank vole excreta in forests, woodsheds and rural buildings. No person-to-person spread.
Key facts
- ▪ Causes the mildest hantaviral disease, with kidney involvement but low mortality
- ▪ Strongly cyclical, peaking with bank vole population booms
- ▪ Forestry, mushroom picking and cabin cleaning are common exposure scenarios
- ▪ Diagnosis relies on PUUV-specific IgM serology
Reporting agencies
ECDCTHL FinlandFolkhälsomyndighetenSciensanoSanté publique France
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.
Disclaimer: Information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for clinical advice.