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Virus profile

Hantaan virus

HTNV · HFRS

Syndrome
HFRS
Reservoir
Striped field mouse
Region
East
CFR
approximately 5–15%
Reservoir & range

Rodent host: Striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius). Region: East Asia (China, Korean peninsula, far-eastern Russia). First identified: 1976, isolated from striped field mice near the Hantan River, South Korea.

Overview

Hantaan virus is the prototype hantavirus and the cause of the classical, severe form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in East Asia. It was first isolated by Karl Johnson and colleagues from striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius) trapped near the Hantan River in South Korea, after the virus had caused thousands of cases of unexplained hemorrhagic fever among UN troops during the Korean War. Hantaan virus produces the most severe HFRS clinical course of any Old World hantavirus, with prominent fever, hemorrhage, hypotension, and acute renal failure.

Tracked countries

Live risk index and news for countries where Hantaan virus is documented or surveilled.

ChinaSouth KoreaNorth KoreaRussia

Notable outbreaks

  1. 1951–1954
    Korean War theatre

    More than 3,000 UN troops developed unexplained hemorrhagic fever; the responsible virus was not isolated until 1976.

  2. Annual
    Northeastern China

    China continues to report tens of thousands of HFRS cases annually, with Hantaan virus the dominant strain in rural agricultural provinces.

FAQ

Hantaan virus: questions answered

What is Hantaan virus?
Hantaan virus is the prototype hantavirus and the principal cause of severe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in East Asia. It was first isolated in 1976 in South Korea and gave the entire virus family its name.
How dangerous is Hantaan virus?
Hantaan virus produces the most severe form of HFRS among Old World hantaviruses, with reported case-fatality rates between roughly 5% and 15% depending on the country and healthcare access. Severe cases involve shock, acute renal failure, and hemorrhage.
Where does Hantaan virus circulate?
Hantaan virus is endemic across much of China, the Korean peninsula, and far-eastern Russia, tracking the distribution of its rodent reservoir — the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius).
Is there a vaccine for Hantaan virus?
Inactivated Hantaan virus vaccines are licensed and used in South Korea and China for at-risk populations such as agricultural workers and military personnel. They are not licensed in the United States or most of Europe.

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Seoul virusHFRS
Brown rat · Worldwide (anywhere brown rats
Reference

Read more: What is hantavirus · Symptoms · Transmission · Prevention · Historical outbreaks