Hantavirus Strains: All Types Explained
Over 50 hantavirus strains are known worldwide, but a handful cause the majority of human disease. In the Americas, Sin Nombre and Andes virus cause Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). In Asia and Europe, Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, and Dobrava cause Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS). Each strain has a single rodent species as its primary reservoir — a co-evolutionary relationship millions of years in the making.
All Major Hantavirus Strains
Sin Nombre Virus (SNV)
HPS (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome)The deadliest hantavirus in North America and the most common cause of HPS in the United States. Sin Nombre virus is carried by deer mice across the western US and Canada, from Bri…
Full profile →Andes Virus (ANDV)
HCPS (Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome)Andes virus is the defining hantavirus of South America and the most epidemiologically significant strain in 2026 due to its unique person-to-person transmission capability. First …
Full profile →Seoul Virus (SEOV)
HFRS (Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome — mild)Seoul virus is unique among hantaviruses: it travels with its reservoir host — the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) — which has achieved global distribution through human commerce an…
Full profile →Hantaan Virus (HTNV)
HFRS (Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome — severe)Hantaan virus is the prototypical hantavirus — the first to be isolated and characterized, and the namesake of the entire genus (Orthohantavirus). It causes classic severe HFRS, a …
Full profile →Puumala & Dobrava Viruses
Nephropathia Epidemica (Puumala) / HFRS (Dobrava)Europe's two primary hantavirus strains differ dramatically in severity. Puumala virus causes Nephropathia Epidemica (NE) — a generally mild kidney disease with very low mortality,…
Full profile →📊 Strain Comparison Table
| Strain | Disease | Reservoir | Region | CFR | P2P | Vaccine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sin Nombre Virus | HPS | Deer mouse | Western North America | 35–40% | No | — |
| Andes Virus | HCPS | Long-tailed pygmy rice rat | Argentina, Chile (Patagonia) | 15–40% | ⚠️ Yes | — |
| Seoul Virus | HFRS | Norway/brown rat | Worldwide — the only globally distributed hantavirus | <1% | No | — |
| Hantaan Virus | HFRS | Striped field mouse | China, Korea, Russia (Far East), Balkans | 5–15% | No | ✅ |
| Puumala & Dobrava Viruses | Nephropathia Epidemica | Bank vole | Europe — Finland, Sweden, Belgium, France (Puumala) | <0.5% (Puumala) / 5–12% (Dobrava) | No | — |
CFR = Case Fatality Rate. P2P = Person-to-Person transmission. Table shows primary values; ranges vary by study and outbreak context.
🏥 HPS vs HFRS: Two Very Different Diseases
Despite being caused by the same virus family, the two major hantavirus disease types affect completely different organ systems and have drastically different outcomes:
- HPS (Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome) — New World strains (Sin Nombre, Andes, Bayou). Primary target: lungs. Clinical hallmark: non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema — the lungs fill with fluid from damaged blood vessels. Case fatality rate: 35–40%. Requires ICU; ECMO for severe cases. No approved treatment.
- HFRS (Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome) — Old World strains (Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, Dobrava). Primary target: kidneys. Five clinical phases: febrile → hemorrhagic → hypotensive → oliguric → polyuric → recovery. Case fatality rate: <0.5% (Puumala/NE) to 15% (Hantaan). Annual global burden: over 150,000 hospitalizations.
Geography largely determines which disease a patient develops: travel to the Americas with rodent exposure → HPS risk. Residence or travel in Asia or Europe with rodent exposure → HFRS risk. Seoul virus (carried by Norway rats) is the exception — it causes HFRS on every inhabited continent.
Hantavirus Strains FAQ
What is the deadliest hantavirus strain?
In terms of case fatality rate, Sin Nombre virus and Andes virus (both causing HPS/HCPS in the Americas) are the deadliest, with 35–40% mortality in confirmed clinical cases. Hantaan virus (East Asia) causes severe HFRS with 5–15% mortality but affects far more people annually. Puumala virus (Europe) causes mild disease with less than 0.5% mortality.
Which hantavirus is in the 2026 outbreak?
The 2026 MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak involves Andes virus (ANDV), the South American strain carried by the long-tailed pygmy rice rat in Patagonia. Andes virus is the only hantavirus capable of person-to-person transmission, which is why this outbreak has generated global concern despite the small number of cases.
Can Seoul virus cause HPS?
No. Seoul virus causes HFRS (kidney disease), not HPS (lung disease). The distinction matters clinically. HFRS from Seoul virus is generally mild — most patients recover without intensive care. Seoul virus does not affect the lungs in the way that Sin Nombre or Andes virus does.
Is there hantavirus in Asia?
Yes — Asia has the highest global burden of hantavirus disease. Hantaan virus in China and Korea causes tens of thousands of HFRS hospitalizations annually. Seoul virus is also widespread globally including Asia. The European Puumala and Dobrava strains do not extend into Asia. Asia does not have HPS-causing strains like Sin Nombre or Andes.
What animals carry hantavirus besides rodents?
To date, hantavirus has been found almost exclusively in rodents (order Rodentia). However, recent genomic studies have identified hantavirus-like sequences in shrews (order Eulipotyphla), moles, and bats — suggesting the virus family has a much broader evolutionary history than the rodent-only picture suggests. None of these non-rodent 'hantaviruses' have been associated with human disease.