Signs and Symptoms of Hantavirus Infection:

As far as human disease is concerned, hantaviruses are divided into two major groups. The Hantaan, Puumala, and Seoul viruses are found mostly in the Asia and Europe. They cause a group of illnesses called hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). In people with HRFS, the kidneys may not function properly, so the body is not as able to produce urine. People with severe cases of HFRS may have circulatory problems, including shock, bleeding, and fluid accumulation in the lungs, and abnormal liver enzymes. In general, these hantaviruses cause death in less than 10% of the people who become infected with these viruses.

The second group of hantaviruses has been found only in the Americas. In the United States, this group includes the Sin Nombre virus (SNV), carried by the deer mouse, which caused the well-publicized "Four Corners" outbreak. Three other hantaviruses have been recently discovered that have caused several cases with the same pulmonary symptoms. The Black Creek Canal virus, carried by the cotton rat, was found in Florida, while the Bayou Virus, carried by the rice rat, was found in Louisiana. In New York, the New York-1 virus was linked to the white-footed mouse. Several other hantaviruses, Prospect Hill, Rio Segundo, Rio Mamore, and El Moro Canyon, have also been discovered, but they have not yet been associated with any disease in humans.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)  may start as a flu-like illness, but may rapidly progress to severe breathing difficulties and may result in death.  Cases have also been confirmed elsewhere in the Americas, in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Paraguay and Uraguay. In addition, rodents carrying viruses similar to Sin Nombre have also been found in Bolivia, Costa Rica and Mexico, but these hantaviruses have not been associated with disease in humans.