[HANTAVIRUS PULMONARY SYNDROME DIAGNOSED IN A RETURNED TRAVELER FROM THE USA]

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a rare and sometimes fatal respiratory disease in humans. The infection is acquired mainly through inhalation of aerosolized rodent secretions which serves as the reservoir for the virus. HPS cases are mostly reported from the American continent. In this article we describe a case of fulminant HPS in a 47 years old man who had traveled with his family on vacation to the southwestern region of the United States. The patient was hospitalized one month after his return to Israel and the diagnosis of hantavirus infection (species Sin Nombre Virus), was performed on samples sent to the CDC's Viral Special Pathogens Branch. Clinicians should be aware of this special entity and consider HPS in the differential diagnosis of patients with respiratory failure and fever, when there is a history of travel to the endemic area.