[First case of nephropathia epidemica in southern Sweden]

Nephropathia epidemica (NE) is the European version of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. NE is caused by the Puumala type of Hantavirus with the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) as the natural reservoir. Endemic regions include northern Sweden with an incidence of 53 to 569 cases per year, depending on the cyclic variation of rodent populations. In southern Sweden, south of the Mälardalen region, no cases of NE have been described without a historical account of travel to endemic areas in the weeks beforehand. This case report describes the course of disease of a patient diagnosed with NE, who had only stayed in the southernmost region of Sweden: Skåne. This may indicate the spread of NE to more southern regions of Sweden. NE should consequently be considered as a differential diagnosis at emergency and infectious disease departments throughout Sweden.