What are the early symptoms of hantavirus?

Early symptoms may resemble other viral infections and include fever, severe fatigue, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

Can hantavirus affect the lungs?

Yes. In variants with pulmonary involvement, cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness may appear. In severe cases, acute respiratory failure may develop.

Can hantavirus affect the kidneys?

Yes. In variants associated with renal syndrome, it may cause decreased urine output, impaired kidney function, oedema and, in some cases, blood pressure changes.

How is hantavirus diagnosed?

Diagnosis is based on symptoms, a history of exposure to rodents or endemic areas, and laboratory tests such as PCR and serology. In patients with respiratory involvement, X-rays or CT scans may also be performed.

Is there a specific treatment?

There is no specific antiviral treatment for most hantaviruses and no vaccine for general use. Management is based on supportive care according to severity.

How can hantavirus be prevented?

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid contact with rodents and their excreta. Closed spaces should be ventilated before cleaning, contaminated surfaces should be dampened with disinfectant, gloves and if needed a mask should be used, food should be stored in sealed containers, and cracks and holes should be sealed.

Are there hantavirus cases in Spain?

Sporadic and very infrequent cases have been described. The risk for the general population in Spain is very low.

Diseases, symptoms and health conditions

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What is hantavirus?

Q: Can hantavirus spread from person to person?

Person-to-person transmission is exceptional. It has only been clearly documented with the Andes virus and in situations involving close contact.

Reading time: 2 min

Hantavirus is a group of viruses mainly transmitted through infected wild rodents. In humans, infection can cause serious diseases that primarily affect the lungs and, in some cases, the kidneys.

The term hantavirus includes different variants depending on their geographical distribution, animal reservoirs and the type of disease they cause.

In the Americas, the most characteristic infection is hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome, a rare but potentially severe disease that can lead to respiratory failure. In Europe and Asia, hantaviruses more commonly cause a condition known as haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

Each viral variant is associated with a specific rodent species. In Chile and Argentina, one of these variants is the Andes virus, whose reservoir is the long‑tailed pygmy rice rat, also known as long-tailed colilargo (Oligoryzomys longicaudatus).

Although most infections occur through contact with infected rodents, the Andes virus is an important exception, as in very rare cases it can be transmitted from person to person after close and prolonged contact.

Hantavirus infection is uncommon, but some cases can progress rapidly and require hospital admission. In Spain, the risk for the general population is very low.

Incubation period

The incubation period for hantavirus usually ranges between 1 and 6 weeks after exposure, most commonly between 2 and 4 weeks. This relatively long interval can make it difficult to identify the exact moment of infection, especially in people with ongoing environmental exposure.

Mortality rate

The mortality rate of hantavirus infection varies depending on the type of disease it causes:

In variants associated with renal syndrome, mortality ranges from 1% to 15%.
In variants associated with pulmonary syndrome, mortality may be higher, approximately between 20% and 40% in severe cases.

These figures are indicative and may vary depending on the availability of medical care and how quickly the diagnosis is made.

How is hantavirus transmitted?

The main route of transmission is inhalation of particles contaminated with urine, droppings or saliva from infected rodents.

Infection may also occur by:

Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the mouth, nose or eyes.
Consuming contaminated food.
Being bitten by an infected rodent.

Person‑to‑person transmission is exceptional and has only been clearly documented with the Andes virus, in situations involving close contact.

Substantiated information by:

Antoni Trilla Epidemiologist Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology Service

Published: 13 May 2026
Updated: 13 May 2026

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