Epidemic process and influencing factors of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: a review

Abstract

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a category B infectious disease caused by hantaviruses that cause acute kidney injury and has a high mortality rate, and HFRS control has been given a high priority in China. It has been found that hantavirus types are closely associated with selective host transformation and regional adaption, and continue to evolve in the form of gene recombination. The severity of HFRS varies in hantavirus types. In addition, global environmental changes and alteration of host animal behaviors accelerate Hantavirus genome variations, and large-scale land reclamation and infrastructure building increases the likelihood of human contacts with hosts and disease-transmitting vectors, thereby increasing the risk of HFRS development. This review summarizes the main characteristics and influencing factors pertaining to the epidemic process of HFRS, so as to provide insights into effective prevention and control of this infectious disease.