Initially, HPS has an incubation phase of 2–4 weeks, in which patients remain asymptomatic.[1] Subsequently, patients can experience 3–5 days of flu-like prodromal phase symptoms, including fever, cough, muscle pain, headache, lethargy, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.[1]
After the cardiopulmonary phase, patients can enter a diuretic phase of 2–3 days characterized by symptom improvement and diuresis. Subsequent convalescence can last months to years.[1]
As of 2017, patient mortality in the US from HPS is 36%.[12]
Transmission
The virus can be transmitted to humans by a direct bite or inhalation of aerosolized virus, shed from stool, urine, or saliva from a natural reservoir rodent.[1] In general, droplet and/or fomite transfer has not been shown in the hantaviruses in either the pulmonary or hemorrhagic forms.[13][14]
Diagnosis
The preferred method for diagnosis of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is serological testing which identifies both acute (IgM) and remote infections (IgG); however, PCR may also be used to identify early infections.[15]
Prevention
Rodent control in and around the home or dwellings remains the primary prevention strategy, as well as eliminating contact with rodents in the workplace and at campsites. Closed storage sheds and cabins are often ideal sites for rodent infestations. Airing out of such spaces prior to use is recommended. People are advised to avoid direct contact with rodent droppings and wear a mask while cleaning such areas to avoid inhalation of aerosolized rodent secretions.[16]
Treatment
There is no cure or vaccine for HPS. Treatment involves supportive therapy, including mechanical ventilation with supplemental oxygen during the critical respiratory-failure stage of the illness.[1] Although ribavirin can be used to treat hantavirus infections, it is not recommended as a treatment for HPS due to unclear clinical efficacy and likelihood of medication side effects.[1] Early recognition of HPS and admission to an intensive care setting offers the best prognosis.[16]
^ abcdefghiBarros, N; McDermott, S; Wong, AK; Turbett, SE (16 April 2020). "Case 12-2020: A 24-Year-Old Man with Fever, Cough, and Dyspnea". New England Journal of Medicine. 382 (16): 1544–1553. doi:10.1056/NEJMcpc1916256. PMID32294350. S2CID215792383.
^Koster FT. Levy H. "Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome: a new twist to an established pathogen", In: Fong IW, editor; Alibek K, editor. New and Evolving Infections of the 21st Century, New York: Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.; 2006. pp. 151–170.
^Nichol ST. Beaty BJ. Elliott RM. Goldbach R, et al. Family Bunyaviridae. In: Fauquet CM, editor; Mayo MA, editor; Maniloff J, editor; Desselberger U, et al., editors. Virus Taxonomy: 8th Report of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses. San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic Press;
^Rollin PE. Ksiazek TG. Elliott LH. Ravkov EV, et al. "Isolation of Black Creek Canal virus, a new hantavirus from Sigmodon hispidus in Florida", J Med Virol. 1995;46:35–39. [PubMed]
^Glass GE. Livingstone W. Mills JN. Hlady WG, et al. "Black Creek Canal virus infection in Sigmodon hispidus in southern Florida", Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1998;59:699–703. PubMed
^Drebot MA. Gavrilovskaya I. Mackow ER. Chen Z, et al. "Genetic and serotypic characterization of Sin Nombre-like viruses in Canadian Peromyscus maniculatus mice", Virus Res. 2001;75:75–86. [PubMed]
^Hjelle B. Lee SW. Song W. Torrez-Martinez N, et al. "Molecular linkage of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome to the white-footed mouse, Peromyscus leucopus: genetic characterization of the M genome of New York virus", J Virol. 1995;69:8137–8141. [PMC free article] [PubMed]