[Diseases caused by hantaviruses]

Hantaviruses are RNA viruses that belong to the genus Hantavirus, family Bunyaviridae. The main reservoir of hantaviruses are rodents. Humans become infected by inhaling particles of dust contaminated with faeces of rodents, that are found In Europe and Asia hantaviruses named: Hantaan, Seoul and Dobrava-Belgrade causing haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) are prevalent. Typical clinical picture of HFRS consists of renal insufficiency (primarily anuria and then polyuria with disturbances of water and electrolytic balance), hypotension, shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation and fibrynolisis (DIC). The mild form of this disease caused by Puumala virus is found in Scandinavia. North and South America are the regions where the prevalence of viruses: Sin Nombre, Black Creek Canal, Bayou, and New York causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been noted. In the course of this disease non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema requires immediate hospitalisation at intensive care ward with artificial ventilation. Mortality in HPS due to hypotension, hypoxia and shock ranges up to 40%.