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Virus profile

Puumala virus

PUUV · HFRS

Syndrome
HFRS
Reservoir
Bank vole
Region
Northern
CFR
less than 1%
Reservoir & range

Rodent host: Bank vole (Myodes glareolus). Region: Northern, central, and western Europe (especially Finland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium). First identified: 1980, in Finland.

Overview

Puumala virus is the most common hantavirus in Europe and the principal cause of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the region — a milder form sometimes called nephropathia epidemica. The reservoir is the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), which experiences cyclical population peaks every 3–4 years that drive corresponding spikes in human cases. Most infections produce fever, headache, abdominal pain, and acute kidney injury that typically resolves with supportive care, including dialysis when needed.

Tracked countries

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

FinlandSwedenNorwayGermanyBelgiumNetherlandsFranceAustriaCzechiaPoland

Notable outbreaks

  1. 2007–2008
    Finland and central Europe

    Major Puumala epidemic linked to a bank-vole population peak; thousands of confirmed cases across the region.

  2. 2012
    Germany

    Notable case spike, particularly in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.

  3. 2021
    Belgium and the Netherlands

    Western European bank-vole peak year producing a cluster of cases.

FAQ

Puumala virus: questions answered

What is Puumala virus?
Puumala virus is a European hantavirus that causes a relatively mild form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), often called nephropathia epidemica. It is carried by the bank vole and produces seasonal case peaks tied to vole population cycles.
Where is Puumala virus found?
Puumala virus is endemic across most of forested Europe, with the highest case rates in Finland, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Austria. Bank vole habitat largely defines the geographic range.
Is Puumala virus dangerous?
Compared with the Asian Hantaan virus or the New World HPS-causing strains, Puumala virus disease is mild — case fatality is below 1%. Most patients recover with supportive care, though hospitalisation and dialysis are common.
What activities increase Puumala virus exposure risk?
Cleaning storage sheds, woodpiles, and rural cabins after winter; forestry work; and any activity that disturbs bank-vole nesting areas (especially during autumn population peaks) carry the highest risk.

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Reference

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