Hantavirus infection in East Asia.

Hantaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses that belong to the Hantavirus genus of the family Bunyaviridae. These viruses persistently infect their rodent reservoirs without causing disease. The virus is transmitted to humans via the inhalation of infectious aerosols generated from contaminated animal secretions or through the contaminated saliva of animal bites. Hantaviruses cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Euro-Asia, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in North and South America. Here, we review the epidemiology and epizootiology of hantavirus infection in Asian countries.