Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: literature review and distribution analysis in China

SummaryHantaviruses infect their reservoir hosts and humans, but the infection only causes disease in humans. In Asia and Europe (the Old World), the hantaviruses usually cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). This article summarizes the current understanding of hantavirus epidemiology, as well as the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, renal pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of HFRS. Moreover, the spatiotemporal distribution of HFRS was analysed based on the latest data obtained from the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, for the period January 2004 to April 2015, to provide valuable information for the practical application of more effective HFRS control and prevention strategies in China.