Hantaviruses

Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and haemorrhagic fever with pulmonary syndrome (HFPS) and cardiopulmonary syndrome are a group of haemorrhagic fever caused by hantaviruses. Korean haemorrhagic fever (haemorrhagic nephroso-nephritis) is characterized by renal failure, generalized haemorrhage and shock and 10% fatality. During the Korean War of 1951–1953 more than 3000 soldiers suffered from it. Investigation resulted into isolation of a virus from the lungs of striped field mice—Hantaan/hantavirus in 1976 named after river Hantan.