health
Hantavirus is also present in Serbia: Batut urgently warns about deadly infection
The epidemic of hantavirus infections that occurred on a cruise ship in the South Atlantic, with six people infected and three deceased so far, has generated significant media attention and public concern.
TL;DR
- Hantavirus infections are zoonoses primarily transmitted by rodents through contaminated aerosols.
- HFRS, common in Europe/Asia, affects kidneys and has a 1-15% mortality rate.
- HPS, common in the Americas, affects lungs and has a 30-50% mortality rate.
- Human-to-human transmission is rare but documented with Andes virus.
- Serbia registered 127 HFRS cases in the last decade, with 11 in 2024 and 2 in 2025 so far.
- There is no specific antiviral treatment or vaccine; treatment is supportive.
- Prevention focuses on reducing contact with rodents through cleanliness and sealing entry points.