Hantavirus 2010-2011
30 January 2012
Hantavirus is transmitted to humans from rodents, primarily through inhalation of atomized urine and faeces, but also via bites and other types of contact.
Hantavirus is not routinely monitored. Hantavirus test results were extracted from the microbiological database (MiBa), which comprises all Danish microbiological test results as from 1 January 2010. In the 2010-2011 period, a total of 429 patients were tested for hantavirus. In all, 30 cases were IgM positive for hantavirus, and 23 of these also tested positive for IgG antibodies. No PCR positive specimens were found. The diagnosis should be considered in patients with acutely occurring fever, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, proteinuria/haematuria, renal impairment and relevant exposure. Infection reservoirs are found both on Funen, Lolland-Falster and in Jutland, but the disease is mainly observed in South Funen.
For more information, please see EPI-NEWS no. 4, 2012.