Key facts
- Symptoms start 1 to 8 weeks after contact with infected rodents.
- Early on it feels like flu: fever, tiredness, strong muscle aches.
- In the American form, coughing and shortness of breath can follow 4 to 10 days later. This stage is dangerous.
- See a doctor if you get flu-like symptoms within 8 weeks of rodent exposure, and tell them about it.
Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (Americas)
This is the form found in Canada, the US and South America, including the Andes virus.
Early symptoms
- Tiredness
- Fever
- Muscle aches, especially in the thighs, hips and back, sometimes the shoulders
About half of patients also have headaches, dizziness, chills, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or stomach pain.
Late symptoms, 4 to 10 days after the first ones
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Tightness in the chest as the lungs fill with fluid
CDC reports that 38% of people who reach the breathing stage die. Survival depends heavily on fast access to intensive care, often including breathing support.
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (Europe and Asia)
Symptoms usually start 1 to 2 weeks after exposure, rarely up to 8 weeks. They come on suddenly:
- Intense headache
- Back and stomach pain
- Fever and chills
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
Some people have a flushed face, red eyes or a rash. Later stages can bring low blood pressure, shock, internal bleeding and kidney failure. Severity depends on the virus: Hantaan and Dobrava kill 5 to 15% of patients, while Puumala, the most common type in Europe, and Seoul kill under 1%. Full recovery can take weeks to months.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you have fever, muscle aches or tiredness and in the last 8 weeks you have:
- cleaned a cabin, shed, barn, garage or attic with signs of mice or rats
- handled rodents, traps or nests
- slept or worked somewhere with rodents
- been in close contact with a confirmed Andes virus case
Tell the doctor about the rodent contact. Early hantavirus looks like flu, and doctors may not think of it unless you mention it. Tests in the first 72 hours can come back negative, so a repeat test may be needed.
Go to emergency care straight away if you are short of breath, have chest tightness or a worsening cough after a possible exposure.
Sources: CDC: About hantavirus, WHO fact sheet
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