Description of an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the southern Jura Mountains, France, in 2021

Abstract

ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to describe the 2021 Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) outbreak in the southern Jura Mountains. Patients and methodsWe included all laboratory-confirmed cases of HFRS reported between April and September 2021 in the three local hospitals. ResultsA total of 90 patients were enrolled in the study: 73 hospitalized and 17 non-hospitalized patients. Transient myopia was only reported in non-hospitalized patients. Forty (44.4 %) patients underwent medical imaging before hantavirus diagnosis. Twenty-one patients (28.8 %) had a plasma creatinine level > 353.6 µmol/L, no patient developed severe metabolic disorder. Only one patient was dialyzed. A pacemaker was implanted before diagnosis of HFRS due to severe bradycardia in one patient. Sudden death was reported in one patient. ConclusionThis hantavirus epidemic led to numerous hospitalizations, one dialysis treatment, and one death. Early diagnosis by rapid test could avoid unnecessary investigations.