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Hantavirus symptoms

A summary of hantavirus symptoms from official public-health sources. Every clinical claim below links back to its source. This page is for information only — it is not medical advice. If you believe you may have been exposed or are experiencing symptoms, contact your local health authority or a clinician.

Two clinical syndromes. Hantaviruses cause two distinct illnesses depending on the strain. New World hantaviruses (Sin Nombre, Andes, etc.) cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) — primarily a lung disease. Old World hantaviruses (Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, Dobrava-Belgrade) cause Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) — primarily a kidney disease.↗↗
New World hantaviruses

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)

Incubation: 1 to 5 weeks after exposure (typically 2–3 weeks).↗

Early phase (first 1–5 days of illness)
  • Fever↗
  • Severe muscle aches in the thighs, hips, back, and sometimes shoulders↗
  • Fatigue↗
  • Headaches, dizziness, chills↗
  • Abdominal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain)↗
Late phase (4–10 days after early symptoms)
  • Coughing and shortness of breath as lungs fill with fluid↗
  • Low blood pressure and decreased heart efficiency↗
  • Rapid progression — HPS is a medical emergency once respiratory symptoms appear↗

Mortality: HPS has a case-fatality rate of approximately 38%. Early medical care in an intensive-care setting improves survival.↗

Old World hantaviruses

Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS)

Incubation: 1 to 8 weeks after exposure (typically 2–4 weeks).↗

Initial symptoms
  • Intense headache, back and abdominal pain↗
  • Fever, chills↗
  • Nausea and vomiting↗
  • Blurred vision↗
  • Flushing of the face, eye redness, or a rash↗
Later symptoms
  • Low blood pressure↗
  • Acute shock and vascular leakage↗
  • Acute kidney failure — can cause severe fluid overload↗
  • Hemorrhagic manifestations in severe cases↗

Mortality: Mortality varies by strain — Hantaan and Dobrava can reach 5–15%, while Puumala typically causes a milder illness with mortality under 1%.↗↗

When to seek medical care

If you have been exposed to rodents or rodent droppings — or, in the context of a known cluster, in close contact with a confirmed case — and you develop fever, severe muscle aches, or shortness of breath, contact a healthcare provider promptly and tell them about the exposure. Early diagnosis and supportive care meaningfully improve outcomes for both HPS and HFRS.↗

Sources

This page is a summary of public information from CDC, ECDC, and WHO for educational purposes. It is not a substitute for medical advice. See our full disclaimer.