Hantavirus infection
Hantavirus is the name of a family of related viruses
that have virtually a worldwide distribution. Anyone can become infected
with hantavirus, but persons who have exposure to rodents or to
rodent-infested areas are at highest risk of the infection.
General information
Outbreaks of disease compatible with certain types of
hantavirus infection have been described in Europe and Asia since the
1930's. However, in the United States, there were no reports of acute
disease associated with hantavirus prior to 1993. In the spring of that
year, an outbreak of severe respiratory disease caused by a newly
recognized strain of hantavirus occurred in the southwestern USA. It is
now apparent that illnesses due to this strain occurred before the 1993
outbreak, but were not recognized.
Hantavirus
infection fact sheet (PDF, 24 KB) Spanish (PDF,
26 KB) Information for health
professionals
This is a Wisconsin Disease Surveillance Category I
disease:
Report IMMEDIATELY by TELEPHONE to
the patient's local public health department upon identification of a
confirmed or suspected case. The local health department shall then notify the
state epidemiologist immediately of any confirmed or suspected cases. Submit a
case report within 24 hours submit a case report electronically through the Wisconsin Electronic
Surveillance System (WEDSS), by mail or fax using an Acute and Acute and Communicable Disease Case
Report F44151
(PDF, 167 KB), or by other means. DHS
Communicable Disease Reporting
Wisconsin case reporting and public health follow-up guidelines: Hantavirus
EpiNet (PDF, 33 KB)
Hantavirus
case report form (Exit DHS)
Additional resources
CDC
Hantavirus (Exit DHS)
Facts
about hantavirus (Exit DHS)
Contacts
Wisconsin
Local Health Departments - Regional offices - Tribal agencies
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Last Revised:
June 13, 2012 |
