Hantavirus disease is a viral infection acquired by man through contact with rodents. It is the mildest form of the disease compared with the Asian and American forms. The symptoms however, can be severe enough to require hospitalisation. Humans acquire the infection by direct or indirect contact with rodents or their excreta. The infected rodents are apparently unaffected by the virus, but remain lifelong carrier of the virus.
Infection occurs through inhalation of virus particles or through a bite.
Cases of hantavirus disease occur when rodent populations are increased and when this population is heavily infected by the virus. It lives in leaftree woods with scrub vegetation under the trees, by preference on the edge of the forest, in parks and can occasionally enter human habitats during winter. In Belgium the area between Sambre and Meuse and the regions Thuin, Philippeville, Dinant, Liege and Luxemburg are endemic for the disease. The symptoms occur rather suddenly, about 1 to 4 weeks after contact with the virus. Diagnosis is based on clinical symptoms and biochemical tests.