Hantavirus in Ukraine: what this infection is, how it is transmitted, and why it is dangerous
Kyiv • UNN
The disease is transmitted from rodents, specifically mice, and can range from a mild course to severe complications. There is no specific treatment, so prevention and protection are crucial.
Hantavirus infection is a little-known disease for most Ukrainians, yet it poses a real threat. It is transmitted from rodents, particularly mice, and can range from a mild course to severe complications. Natalia Oleksiivna Vynohrad, Head of the Department of Epidemiology at the Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, professor, Doctor of Medical Sciences, and expert in microbiology and epidemiology for the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, told the UNN journalist more about the specifics of this infection, its spread, and risks.
Details
Hantavirus infections are divided into several groups depending on their geographical distribution and clinical manifestations, the professor explains. Some are characteristic of the American continent, while others are found in Europe and Asia. It is the second group that is relevant to Ukraine and poses a potential danger to our population.
As a medical problem, we have two large groups of hantaviruses. We call them Old World and New World infections. These are viruses that have different geographical distributions and completely different patterns. The ones you are likely interested in now—those causing cardiopulmonary syndrome—are viruses prevalent on the American continent,
In Ukraine, the common form of hantavirus infection is called "Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome" (HFRS). It is represented by several types of viruses circulating in the natural environment. According to the professor, the main reservoir of the infection is mouse-like rodents, which do not get sick themselves but carry the virus.
This is hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, which is also heterogeneous in its species composition. Here we have the Puumala virus, Dobrava-Belgrade, and Saaremaa. Their reservoir in nature is mouse-like rodents. The virus is primarily excreted from the animal through urine and saliva, and a very small dose is sufficient for the disease to occur,
Infection occurs mainly through the air-dust route or through contact with contaminated food or water. The virus can persist in the environment for a long time, which increases the risk of infection. Places where rodent excreta accumulate are particularly dangerous.
This disease spreads via the airborne route and the fecal-oral transmission mechanism as well. Given that mice are everywhere, there is a species-specific affinity of viruses for certain types of mice. Where these mice are present, they do not die, but for humans, it is a particularly dangerous infection,
The course of the disease can vary, from mild to extremely severe. Furthermore, in some cases, the symptoms of this disease resemble the flu, which complicates diagnosis. At the same time, severe forms can be accompanied by serious kidney damage and life-threatening conditions.
Ours, those spread across our territory, have a significantly lower mortality rate of up to 1%. They can manifest as acute respiratory infections, damage to the respiratory system, or the digestive tract. But classically, this disease passes through five phases, and one of them is when the kidneys are blocked. In severe cases, the patient's condition is very grave,
At the same time, there is currently no specific treatment or vaccine against hantavirus. Medics use supportive and symptomatic therapy. In complex cases, patients may require inpatient care or even dialysis.
These are not simple infections because there is no vaccine against them. There is also no specific therapy that acts directly on the virus. Therefore, treatment is symptomatic and often requires hospital supervision. However, proper management of the patient allows for recovery,
The incidence has a clear seasonality and increases during the warm season. The greatest risks are associated with contact with rodents or their environment. The risk group includes both ordinary people and representatives of certain professions.
There is a spring-summer-autumn seasonality. This is the time when mice are active and migrate closer to humans. Everyone who comes into contact with contaminated products or dust is at risk. This could be construction workers, foresters, military personnel, or people working in field conditions,
The expert emphasizes the importance of prevention and caution. The main measures include protection during contact with potentially contaminated surfaces and controlling rodent populations; in case of symptoms, one should immediately consult a doctor.
A mask, gloves, and eye protection are basic things when in contact with places where rodents might have been. It is important to carry out deratization and prevent them from entering dwellings. If a high fever, pain, or shortness of breath appears, you must immediately consult a doctor,
At the same time, the most dangerous types of hantaviruses that cause severe pulmonary syndromes are not common in Ukraine. They are characteristic of other regions of the world and are associated with other species of rodents. That is why the risks in Ukraine, while real, are significantly lower.
Those viruses that cause very severe forms with high mortality are not common in Ukraine. All hantaviruses are tied to specific species of rodents. We do not have those species, so we do not have those most dangerous viruses,