Hantavirus: symptoms, treatment, and prevention
Editorial standards reviewer
Timestamp shown in UTC unless otherwise indicated.
What is hantavirus
Hantavirus is not one virus. It is a whole group. Over 20 species. Each in its own region, with its own rodent carrier.
Some cause pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Others cause hemorrhagic fever (HFRS). They share one thing: high fatality. Andes virus kills up to 50% of those infected.
How it spreads
The main route — through rodents. Their droppings, urine, saliva. Just inhaling dust in a room where mice have been is enough.
Andes virus is the exception. It can spread person-to-person. But only through prolonged close contact. It is rare.
Symptoms
It starts like the flu. Fever, body aches, headache. Then — nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. After 4–10 days — sudden deterioration.
Shortness of breath. Cough. Fluid in the lungs. Shock. Without intensive care — death. From first symptoms to critical condition — days.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment. No antiviral drugs exist. No vaccine either.
Only supportive care. Oxygen. Mechanical ventilation. Intensive care. Early medical attention — the only chance.
| Stage | Symptoms | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Initial | Fever, body aches, fatigue | 1–5 days |
| Gastrointestinal | Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain | 1–5 days |
| Pulmonary | Shortness of breath, cough, pulmonary edema | Hours — days |
Prevention
- Avoid contact with rodents
- Do not sweep dry droppings — wet clean only
- Ventilate rooms before cleaning
- Seal cracks in houses and sheds
- Store food in sealed containers
The main thing
Hantavirus is rare. But it is deadly. In 2026, the cruise ship outbreak reminded the world: the virus has not gone away.
It lives in nature. In rodents. In dust. Waiting for its moment. Your protection — cleanliness and caution.
Do not panic. But stay alert. Especially outside the city.