Re-emerging Disease: The Hanta Virus

HPS, or Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is a relatively newly discovered genus of viruses. The first known case of Hantavirus in the States, in 1993, happened in the Four Corners area of New Mexico where a man was taken to the Hospital and died rapidly afterward. The 1993 outbreak of the virus led to a joint collaboration from a number of government and military agencies to identify the disease and determine its origin. Since the 1993 outbreak there have been a number of cases throughout different states and a re-emergence of the virus in Oregon has happened as recently as June 2012.


The CDC says that once infected with the Hantavirus, the virus can progress to Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and lead to fatal implications. Hantavirus is contracted through contact with hantavirus infected rodents or their urine and droppings. Symptoms of hantavirus initially feel very much like the flu and can develop between 1-5 from exposure. Late symptoms of the virus which begin 4-10 days after infection include shortness of breath and and the lungs filling with fluid. If not treated properly the virus can be fatal but if caught early enough, care in an intensive unit with specific targeting of oxygen therapy to help through the period of severe respiratory distress can greatly improve treatment effectiveness.

The original outbreak of Hantavirus in 1993 led to infections throughout many states including Oregon and lasted for about 3 years infecting a total of 5 people between 93 - 96. State of Oregon records indicate a cessation of the disease for a 9 year period of time between 1996 and 2005. A re-emergence of the disease since 2005 has seen a greater number infections since then and Hantavirus has infected anywhere from 1-3 individuals per year from 2005-2012. The most recent case was in June of 2012 and this case as well as all cases before it were due to some kind of contact with mice or their feces. This recent re-emergence of the Hantavirus can be a good reminder of fact that even though we need to be focused on the current diseases affecting our world and preventing any new diseases from emerging, we need to be aware that diseases that had affected us can re-emerge and in some cases even come back stronger and affect us once more.