Hantaviruses

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) 

Hantavirus
(Hantaviruses, Hantavirus, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, HPS)

Hantavirus pulmonary (relating to the lungs) syndrome (HPS) is an infectious disease that can cause death. It spreads to people by rodents, such as rats and mice. 

Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread by rodents. They can cause many different disease syndromes in people worldwide.  Infection with any hantavirus can produce hantavirus disease in people. Hantaviruses in the Americas, called “New World” hantaviruses, may cause hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). In Europe and Asia, there are other hantaviruses known as the “Old World" type. These hantaviruses may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) (internal bleeding with kidney problems).