Symptoms of hantavirus infection

According to WHO, early symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome typically appear 1 to 8 weeks after exposure (most often 2 to 4 weeks) and include fever, headache, dizziness, chills, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. After this initial phase, severe cases progress to respiratory distress, fluid in the lungs, and low blood pressure (shock), which can become life-threatening within hours. In hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, kidney involvement and bleeding tendencies dominate the clinical picture. Anyone with sudden severe respiratory symptoms after recent rodent exposure should seek urgent medical care. Mention the exposure history to clinicians, as it helps in early recognition.