Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: mode of transmission to humans.

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a viral disease spread to humans from persistently infected rodents and other small mammals. The consensus of opinion regarding the mechanism of transmission to man indicates a principal role for respiratory infection from aerosols of infectious virus from rodent urine, feces and saliva. Interhuman, secondary spread of infection does not occur. The role of ectoparasites in virus transmission is undefined. However, epidemiologic considerations and virologic studies indicate possible roles for chiggers and gamasoid mites.