Meaning
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a rare but severe viral disease caused by hantaviruses. It mainly affects the lungs and heart, and can become life-threatening within a short period after symptoms worsen. It is also called Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome because severe cases affect both respiratory and cardiovascular function.
Cause and Transmission
HPS is mainly caused by hantaviruses carried by infected rodents.
Humans usually get infected through:
- inhaling dust contaminated with rodent urine, droppings or saliva
- cleaning closed spaces with rodent infestation
- handling contaminated nesting material
- rodent bites or scratches, though this is less common
Most hantaviruses do not spread from person to person. The major exception is Andes virus, found in South America, which can rarely spread between people through close contact. CDC notes that Andes virus is the only hantavirus known to spread person-to-person, usually among close contacts of a sick person.
Symptoms
HPS usually begins like a common viral illness.
Early symptoms include:
- fever
- fatigue
- muscle pain
- headache
- dizziness
- chills
- nausea, vomiting or abdominal pain
After a few days, the illness may suddenly worsen.
Severe symptoms include:
- coughing
- shortness of breath
- chest tightness
- fluid build-up in the lungs
- low blood pressure
- shock
- respiratory failure
CDC notes that symptoms can progress to severe breathing difficulty, and HPS is fatal in nearly 4 in 10 infected people who develop severe disease.
Severity
HPS is uncommon, but it is dangerous because it can progress rapidly.
CDC estimates that among patients with severe respiratory symptoms, the case fatality rate is around 38%.
There is no specific curative antiviral treatment for HPS. Management mainly depends on early recognition, intensive supportive care, oxygen support and treatment of respiratory or circulatory failure.
Latest 2026 Context
HPS came into international focus in May 2026 because of a multi-country cluster linked to the MV Hondius cruise ship.
WHO reported a cluster of Andes hantavirus cases linked to cruise travel. As of 13 May 2026, WHO had reported 11 cases connected with the outbreak.
Earlier, WHO reported eight cases and three deaths as of 8 May 2026, giving a case fatality ratio of 38% in that cluster. All laboratory-confirmed cases were identified as Andes virus by PCR or sequencing.
ECDC’s 17 May 2026 update reported 12 cases, including nine confirmed, two probable and one inconclusive case, with no new deaths since the previous update.
Public Health Importance
HPS is important because it is a zoonotic disease, meaning it spreads from animals to humans. It reflects the wider public-health risk created by human contact with rodents and their habitats.
It is relevant for:
- rodent control
- sanitation
- occupational health
- travel medicine
- outbreak surveillance
- rural and forest-region health
- disaster-response settings
- One Health approach
The disease is usually not a mass-transmission threat like COVID-19, but clusters can occur when people are exposed to contaminated environments or, in the case of Andes virus, through close contact.
Prevention
Prevention depends mainly on reducing exposure to rodents and contaminated dust.
Key measures include:
- seal holes and gaps in houses, stores and sheds
- keep food grains and waste in rodent-proof containers
- avoid dry sweeping rodent-contaminated areas
- wet contaminated surfaces with disinfectant before cleaning
- use gloves and masks while cleaning closed spaces
- remove rodent nesting material safely
- improve sanitation around homes, farms and storage areas
CDC warns that fresh rodent urine, droppings and nesting material can release virus into the air when disturbed, making safe cleaning practices essential.
Conclusion
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a rare but severe rodent-borne disease that affects the lungs and heart. Its public-health importance lies in its high fatality in severe cases, its zoonotic origin and its potential to create clusters after environmental exposure.
The 2026 Andes virus cruise-linked outbreak shows that even rare diseases can become internationally relevant through travel and close-contact settings. Prevention depends on ro
