Twenty-Year Summary of Surveillance for Human Hantavirus Infections, United States

Barbara Knust,Pierre E Rollin

doi:10.3201/eid1912.131217

Abstract

In the past 20 years of surveillance for hantavirus in humans in the United States, 624 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) have been reported, 96% of which occurred in states west of the Mississippi River. Most hantavirus infections are caused by Sin Nombre virus, but cases of HPS caused by Bayou, Black Creek Canal, Monongahela, and New York viruses have been reported, and cases of domestically acquired hemorrhagic fever and renal syndrome caused by Seoul virus have also occurred. Rarely, hantavirus infections result in mild illness that does not progress to HPS. Continued testing and surveillance of clinical cases in humans will improve our understanding of the etiologic agents involved and the spectrum of diseases.

Highlights

In the past 20 years of surveillance for hantavirus in humans in the United States, 624 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) have been reported, 96% of which occurred in states west of the Mississippi River
In the United States, ≈90% of hantavirus infections are acquired through household or occupational exposures [11], a 2012 outbreak among Yosemite National Park visitors is a noteworthy example of recreational hantavirus exposure [12]
Twelve infections were confirmed by PCR analysis to be caused by hantavirus species other than Sin Nombre virus (SNV) (Table): 5 infections were caused by Bayou virus, 1 by Black Creek Canal virus, 2 by New York virus, and 4 by Monongahela virus

Summary

Introduction

In the past 20 years of surveillance for hantavirus in humans in the United States, 624 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) have been reported, 96% of which occurred in states west of the Mississippi River. 4 additional disease-associated hantaviruses indigenous to the United States were described: Bayou, Black Creek Canal, New York, and Monongahela viruses. Of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA, we have summarized the spectrum and distribution of human hantavirus infections in the United States through July 9, 2013.

Results

Conclusion