Infection prevention and control of hantavirus infection, including Andes virus disease. Interim regional guidance for suspected or confirmed cases

Hantaviruses are enveloped viruses belonging to the family Hantaviridae, genus Orthohantavirus, which currently comprises approximately 60 species. They are broadly classified into Old World hantaviruses, distributed in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and New World hantaviruses in the Americas, which are associated with distinct clinical syndromes: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. These viruses are maintained in nature through chronic, asymptomatic infection of specific mammalian reservoirs, primarily rodents of the families Muridae and Cricetidae, with each hantavirus species linked to a single reservoir host that sheds virus in urine, feces, and saliva. Human infection occurs predominantly through inhalation of aerosolized particles contaminated with infected rodent excreta, particularly in enclosed or poorly ventilated environments.

This interim guidance provides practical recommendations for the early recognition and infection prevention and control management, as well as coordination of clinical evaluation and referral of patients with suspected or confirmed hantavirus infection, with particular attention to Andes Virus disease and hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. Suspected hantavirus infection should be managed as a clinical emergency, as patients may initially present with a nonspecific febrile illness but can deteriorate abruptly, progressing to acute respiratory failure, shock, and cardiopulmonary collapse. The objective is to reduce morbidity, mortality, and secondary transmission by supporting early clinical suspicion, timely diagnostic confirmation, immediate public health notification, appropriate infection prevention and control measures, and appropriate referral and care coordination.