Hantavirus Infections in the European Region: A Mini-Review of the Literature

Abstract

Hantaviruses, members of the Bunyaviridae family, are emerging zoonotic infectious agents causing Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia, and Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) in the Americas. Humans acquire infection after inhalation of contaminated aerosolized excreta of infected rodents. The trend towards increasing cases reported in the European region suggests a need for clinicians to be vigilant for the diagnosis of such infections.