Rodents serve as the reservoir for hantaviruses and human infection occurs primarily via aerosolized virus in rodent excreta. The rodent reservoir for the disease is widespread across Oklahoma and the first case of HPS has recently been confirmed in an Oklahoma resident. Physicians should suspect HPS in a previously healthy person who develops a febrile illness and respiratory insufficiency and has potentially been exposed to the virus. Common laboratory findings include a left-shift neutrophilic leukocytosis, elevated hematocrit and thrombocytopenia.
Therapy is supportive.
If HPS is suspected, the patient should be immediately transferred to a facility that can provide aggressive supportive care. HPS was first reported in the United States in an outbreak in the Four Corners area of New Mexico and Arizona in 1993. We report here the findings of the investigation of that case and provide an overview of HPS and recommendations for decreasing the risk of contracting the disease. His condition worsened over the next 3 days and he had onset of cough and shortness of breath. He saw his physician on the morning of October 24.