Pandemic Watch
Hantavirus in China CN
China carries the world's heaviest HFRS burden. Annual reported case counts approach 10,000, with both Hantaan virus (rural, severe) and Seoul virus (urban, milder) contributing. Vaccination has been deployed in several high-incidence provinces, particularly Shaanxi, Heilongjiang, and Shandong, and is credited with substantial case reduction.
Circulating strains
Hantavirus strains documented in China. HPS = Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (Americas, predominantly fatal lung involvement). HFRS = Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (Eurasia, kidney involvement).
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- Rodent reservoir
- Striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius)
- Case-fatality rate
- 5-15%
- Person-to-person spread
- Not documented
The classic 'Korean hemorrhagic fever' agent. Inactivated vaccines are licensed and used in South Korea and parts of China.
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- Rodent reservoir
- Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- Case-fatality rate
- 1-2%
- Person-to-person spread
- Not documented
Effectively a global urban hantavirus. Distribution follows its rat reservoirs through ports and cities; clusters in the UK and US have been linked to pet rat ownership.
Past outbreaks involving China
- COVID-19 - Global Situation 2025-05-28 archived
- Plague - China 2024-03-05 3 deaths
- Novel Coronavirus – Thailand 2021-03-04 archived
- Novel Coronavirus – Japan (ex-China) 2021-03-04 archived
- Pneumonia of unknown cause – China 2021-01-27 archived
See the complete hantavirus outbreak history for China — year-grouped, with case counts and per-bulletin briefings.
