[Hantaviruses]

Area of Science:

• * Virology and Infectious Diseases: Focuses on hantaviruses, a significant group of zoonotic viruses with global health implications.

Context:

• * Hantaviruses are zoonotic pathogens with worldwide distribution, causing severe diseases in humans.
• * Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is endemic in Asia and Europe; Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HPS) emerged in the Americas in 1993.
• * Transmission occurs via inhalation of virus particles from rodent excreta (feces and urine).

Purpose:

• * To highlight the clinical manifestations, transmission routes, and diagnostic methods for hantaviruses.
• * To emphasize the increasing incidence of hantavirus infections in Brazil and the need for healthcare professional awareness.
• * To underscore the importance of supportive care in managing hantavirus infections due to the lack of specific treatments.

Summary:

• * Hantaviruses cause febrile illnesses affecting multiple organs, primarily kidneys (HFRS) or lungs and heart (HPS).
• * American hantavirioses exhibit a high lethality rate, up to 50%.
• * Diagnosis relies on serological tests (e.g., immunoenzymatic assays detecting IgG and IgM antibodies).
• * Management involves fluid balance restoration, dialysis for renal failure, and vasoactive drugs for shock; corticosteroids and ribavirin are under investigation.

Impact:

• * Increased awareness among healthcare personnel can improve the quality of medical care for hantavirus infections.
• * Understanding the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of hantaviruses is vital for public health strategies.
• * The rising number of cases in Brazil necessitates ongoing surveillance and preparedness.