Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Hantavirus, answered concisely.
Can Hantavirus spread from person to person?+
Almost never. The Andes virus in southern South America is the only documented hantavirus with confirmed person-to-person transmission. All other strains spread only from infected rodents to humans.
Is there a vaccine?+
Inactivated vaccines exist in South Korea and China against Hantaan/Seoul strains, used in high-risk populations. There is no licensed vaccine in the Americas, Europe or for HPS strains. Several candidates are in clinical development.
How is Hantavirus treated?+
Treatment is supportive: oxygen, mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic support and, for HFRS, dialysis if needed. Ribavirin shows benefit in early HFRS but not in HPS. ECMO is used in severe HPS in specialized centers.
What is the case fatality rate?+
HPS in the Americas: 30–40%. HFRS in Eurasia: typically 0.1% (Puumala) to 5–15% (Hantaan, Dobrava). Outcomes depend strongly on early ICU access.
How long can the virus survive outside the body?+
Hantaviruses are relatively fragile. They survive only hours to a few days in dust depending on humidity and UV exposure. Standard household disinfectants and a 1:10 bleach solution inactivate them.
Am I at risk if I traveled to an affected country?+
Risk for typical travelers is very low. It increases with rural lodging, exposure to grain stores, barns or cabins with rodent infestations, and outdoor activities in endemic areas.
Why isn't there a realtime case map like for COVID-19?+
Hantavirus is not a globally notifiable disease in the same way. Reporting goes through national surveillance systems (CDC, ECDC, PAHO) which publish weekly to monthly bulletins. There is no public realtime API. We aggregate the most recent official numbers and cite each source.