Pandemic Watch
Hantavirus in Japan JP
Japan documents primarily Seoul virus in urban rodent populations and occasional Hantaan virus in rural areas. Modern case counts are low; the major Japanese HFRS outbreaks date to the post-war period.
Circulating strains
Hantavirus strains documented in Japan. 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 Japan
- Novel Coronavirus – Japan (ex-China) 2021-03-04 archived
See the complete hantavirus outbreak history for Japan — year-grouped, with case counts and per-bulletin briefings.
