Human Hantavirus Infections, Sweden

• Published in: Emerging Infectious Diseases
• Main Authors: Gert E. Olsson, Fredrik Dalerum, Birger Hörnfeldt, Fredrik Elgh, Thomas R. Palo, Per Juto, Clas Ahlm
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2003
• Subjects: Sweden; Medicine; R; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Northern Sweden
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid0911.030275; https://doaj.org/article/311b523493004662a958acd9f998e160

The prevalent human hantavirus disease in Sweden is nephropathia epidemica, which is caused by Puumala virus and shed by infected bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus). To evaluate temporal and spatial patterns of this disease, we studied 2,468 reported cases from a highly disease-endemic region in northern Sweden. We found that, in particular, middle-aged men living in rural dwellings near coastal areas were overrepresented. The case-patients were most often infected in late autumn, when engaged in activities near or within manmade rodent refuges. Of 862 case-patients confident about the site of virus exposure, 50% were concentrated within 5% of the study area. The incidence of nephropathia epidemica was significantly correlated with bank vole numbers within monitored rodent populations in part of the region. Understanding this relationship may help forestall future human hantavirus outbreaks.