Symptoms to know — and when to seek care
Hantavirus illness can look different depending on the virus type and region. The information below is educational and is not a substitute for a medical evaluation.
Seek urgent medical care if you develop breathing difficulty, chest tightness, fainting, confusion, severe weakness, or rapidly worsening symptoms after possible rodent exposure. Tell healthcare staff about the rodent exposure.
Early symptoms
Often non-specific and can resemble flu or other infections.
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
Serious warning symptoms
If these develop after possible rodent exposure, seek urgent care.
- Shortness of breath
- Cough with worsening breathing
- Chest tightness
- Low blood pressure
- Fainting
- Confusion
- Severe weakness
- Reduced urination
- Severe back or flank pain
- Bleeding or unusual bruising
Typical timeline
- Step 1Possible exposure
Contact with rodent droppings, urine, saliva, or contaminated dust.
- Step 2Incubation
Days to several weeks. For HPS often described as 1–6 weeks; varies by virus and individual.
- Step 3Early symptoms
Fever, muscle aches, fatigue, GI complaints.
- Step 4Serious symptoms
Breathing difficulty, low blood pressure, kidney symptoms, bleeding tendencies.
- Step 5Medical care
Hospital evaluation. Mention any rodent exposure to staff.
Symptoms often appear days to weeks after exposure. Timing varies by virus type, exposure, and individual factors. A healthcare professional must evaluate symptoms.
Hantavirus disease patterns
Different hantaviruses cause different illness patterns.
Hantavirus pulmonary / cardiopulmonary syndrome
Geography
Mainly the Americas
Pattern
Often begins with flu-like symptoms (fever, muscle aches, fatigue, GI complaints), then can progress over a few days to severe shortness of breath, fluid in the lungs, and shock.
Notes
Sin Nombre virus (North America) and Andes virus (South America) are the main causes.
Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome
Geography
Mainly Europe and Asia
Pattern
Fever, headache, abdominal and back pain, followed by changes in urination, possible kidney problems, and in some cases bleeding tendencies. Severity varies widely by virus type.
Notes
Caused by Hantaan, Seoul, Dobrava-Belgrade, and Puumala viruses. Puumala typically causes a milder form called nephropathia epidemica.
Andes virus disease
Geography
Parts of South America (Argentina, Chile)
Pattern
Causes HPS-like illness. Notable for documented person-to-person transmission in close-contact settings — the only hantavirus with this confirmed pattern.
Notes
Outbreaks trigger special public-health protocols including contact tracing.
This page is educational. Only a healthcare professional can diagnose infection. If you are unwell, contact a clinician or emergency services.