Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, United States, 1993-2009

Emerg Infect Dis. 2011 Jul;17(7):1195-201. doi: 10.3201/eid1707.101306.

Abstract

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a severe respiratory illness identified in 1993. Since its identification, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has obtained standardized information about and maintained a registry of all laboratory-confirmed HPS cases in the United States. During 1993-2009, a total of 510 HPS cases were identified. Case counts have varied from 11 to 48 per year (case-fatality rate 35%). However, there were no trends suggesting increasing or decreasing case counts or fatality rates. Although cases were reported in 30 states, most cases occurred in the western half of the country; annual case counts varied most in the southwestern United States. Increased hematocrits, leukocyte counts, and creatinine levels were more common in HPS case-patients who died. HPS is a severe disease with a high case-fatality rate, and cases continue to occur. The greatest potential for high annual HPS incidence exists in the southwestern United States.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Creatinine / analysis
  • Demography
  • Disease Reservoirs / virology
  • Female
  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / ethnology
  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / mortality
  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / transmission
  • Hematocrit
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Indians, North American / statistics & numerical data
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Orthohantavirus / physiology*
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rodentia / virology
  • Survival Rate
  • United States / epidemiology
  • White People / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Creatinine