Hantavirus Infections (Print Version)

Also called: Also called: HPS

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare but deadly viral infection. It is spread by mice and rats. They shed the virus in their urine, droppings and saliva. Tiny droplets with the virus can enter the air. People can get the disease if they breathe infected air or come into contact with rodents or their urine or droppings. You cannot catch it from people.

Early symptoms of HPS include

Fatigue
Fever
Muscle aches, especially in the thighs, hips and back
Headaches
Chills
Dizziness
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain

Later symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath.

Controlling rodents in and around your house is the best way to protect yourself from infection. If you have been around rodents and have symptoms of fever, deep muscle aches, and severe shortness of breath, see your doctor immediately.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Overviews

All about Hantavirus(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome(American Lung Association) - http://www.lungusa.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=2060123&content_id={D69824EA-E8AF-4A88-ABF6-EF8138785B5C}¬oc=1

Diagnosis/Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of HPS?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/symptoms.htm

Treatment

What Is the Treatment for HPS?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/treating.htm

Prevention/Screening

How Is Hantavirus Transmitted?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/transmit.htm
Precautions for Campers and Hikers in the Affected Areas(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/prevent6.htm
Tips for Preventing HPS: Clean Up Infested Areas, Using Safety Precautions(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/prevent3.htm
Tips for Preventing HPS: Prevention Indoors and Outdoors(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/prevent2.htm
Who Is at Risk of Getting HPS, and Why?(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/at_risk.htm

Related Issues

Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/hfrs.htm

Pictures & Photographs

Images Useful for Hantavirus Prevention Campaigns(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/images.htm

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Hantavirus Infections(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hantavirus+Infections%22

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Case report: T-cell responses during clearance of Andes virus from... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18814258&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Montenegro. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18806348&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Vector-borne diseases threaten Europe. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18754168&tool=MedlinePlus
Hantavirus Infections -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(Hantavirus[majr]+OR+Hantavirus+Infections[majr])+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

All about Hantaviruses: Glossary of Terms(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/glossary.htm

Directories

State Contacts for Hantavirus Information(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/statecon.htm

Organizations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - http://www.cdc.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/spanish/
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/

Statistics

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Case Count and Descriptive Statistics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/hanta/hps/noframes/caseinfo.htm

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Infections - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/infections.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Hantavirus Infections is the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases - http://www.niaid.nih.gov/