Gli Hantavirus sono una famiglia di virus trasmessi principalmente dai roditori. Possono causare nell’uomo due principali sindromi:
• Sindrome cardiopolmonare da hantavirus (HPS)
• Febbre emorragica con sindrome renale (HFRS)
Ogni tipo di hantavirus è associato a una specifica specie di roditore ospite.
Gli hantavirus sono presenti in diverse parti del mondo:
• Americhe → prevale la sindrome cardiopolmonare (HPS)
• Europa e Asia → prevale la febbre emorragica con sindrome renale (HFRS)
L’uomo si infetta principalmente attraverso:
• inalazione di aerosol contaminati da:
• urina
• feci
• saliva di roditori infetti
• contatto diretto con roditori o loro escreti
La trasmissione da uomo a uomo è estremamente rara, ma possibile con alcuni ceppi (es. virus Andes).
Sintomi
Sindrome cardiopolmonare (HPS)
Fase iniziale:
• febbre
• dolori muscolari
• stanchezza
Fase avanzata:
• tosse
• difficoltà respiratoria grave
• edema polmonare
Può evolvere rapidamente ed essere fatale.
Febbre emorragica con sindrome renale (HFRS)
• febbre alta
• cefalea
• dolori addominali e lombari
• disturbi renali
• possibile sanguinamento
Gravità variabile a seconda del virus.
Diagnosi
La diagnosi si basa su:
• sintomi clinici
• anamnesi di esposizione a roditori
• test di laboratorio (sierologici o molecolari)
Trattamento
Non esiste una terapia antivirale specifica universalmente approvata.
La gestione è:
• di supporto
• ospedalizzazione nei casi gravi
• supporto respiratorio (HPS)
• gestione renale (HFRS)
La diagnosi precoce migliora significativamente la prognosi.
La prevenzione è fondamentale e si basa su:
• controllo dei roditori
• igiene degli ambienti
• evitare il contatto con escrementi
• ventilare locali chiusi prima di entrarvi
• usare protezioni (mascherine, guanti) in ambienti a rischio
Categorie più esposte:
• agricoltori
• lavoratori forestali
• personale militare
• persone che vivono in aree rurali
Considerazioni OMS
• Gli hantavirus rappresentano una zoonosi emergente
• Il rischio dipende dall’esposizione ambientale
• La sorveglianza epidemiologica è essenziale
Bibliografia
• World Health Organization. Hantavirus fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hantavirus
• World Health Organization.WHO’s response to hantavirus cases linked to a cruise ship. https://www.who.int/news/item/07-05-2026-who-s-response-to-hantavirus-cases-linked-to-a-cruise-ship
• World Health Organization. Handbook for management of public health events on board ships https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549462
• World Health Organization. Guide to Ship Sanitation, 3rd edition https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241546690
• World Health Organization. Vector surveillance and control at ports, airports and ground crossings https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549592 Standard precautions for the prevention and control of infections: aide-memoire
• World Health Organization. Hantavirus outbreak toolbox. https://www.who.int/emergencies/outbreak-toolkit/disease-outbreak-toolboxes/hantavirus-outbreak-toolbox
• World Health Organization (4 May 2026). Disease Outbreak News. Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel- Multi-country. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON599
• World Health Organization. A decision framework for effective, equitable and context-specific public health and social measures during public health emergencies: decision navigator: https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/ceaf4aa7-00c8-4681-9c35-965e231a3706/content
• Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization. PAHO supports the international response to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome cases linked to a cruise ship in the Atlantic. https://www.paho.org/en/news/7-5-2026-paho-supports-international-response-hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome-cases-linked
• Epidemiological Alert Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). https://www.paho.org/en/documents/epidemiological-alert-hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome-americas-region-19-december-2025
• Hantavirus in the Americas: Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control. Available at: https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/40176
• Hantavirus Prevention, CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/prevention/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/hantavirus/hps/prevention.html
• Martínez Valeria, Paola N, et al.. (2020). “Super-Spreaders” and Person-to-Person Transmission of Andes Virus in Argentina. New England Journal of Medicine. 383. 2230-2241. 10.1056/NEJMoa2009040.
• US CDC. How to Clean Up After Rodents: https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/rodent-control/clean-up.html
• Hantavirus, Washington State Department of Heath, https://doh.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2025-08/420-056-Guideline-Hantavirus.pdf
• Hantavirus Infection, MDS Manual, professional version: https://www.msdmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/arboviruses-arenaviridae-and-filoviridae/hantavirus-infection
• Handbook for management of public health events on board ships. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549462
• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20351838
[1] Complete sequence of Orthohantavirus andesense virus: Swiss resident 2026. https://virological.org/t/complete-sequence-of-orthohantavirus-andesense-virus-swiss-resident-2026/1023
[2] Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). Epidemiological Alert Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS). https://www.paho.org/en/documents/epidemiological-alert-hantavirus-pulmonary-syndrome-americas-region-19-december-2025
[3] Hantavirus infection – Annual Epidemiological Report for 2023. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/hantavirus-infection-annual-epidemiological-report-2023
[4] WHO fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hantavirus
[5] Standard precautions for the prevention and control of infections: aide-memoire. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-UHL-IHS-IPC-2022.1
Citable reference: World Health Organization (8 May 2026). Disease Outbreak News. Hantavirus cluster linked to cruise ship travel, Multi-country. Available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON600
