Abstract

Hantavirus is rodent-borne, enveloped RNA virus and belonging to Bunyaviridae. It had been isolated from near Hantaan River in South Korea. Hantavirus is a zoonosis that affects thousands of individuals each year throughout the world. It is associated with two main clinical disorders in man: Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) and Hantavirus Pulmoner Syndrome (HPS). HFRS is occur in Asia and Europe, HPS is occur in the American continent. The type and severity of diseases are closely related with virus type. Although hantavirus infection in human have been reported in a wide geopraphical are including some of the neighbours of Turkey in Europe for years any hantavirus-related infection in human has not been reported from Turkey until 2009. The diagnosis of hantavirus-related infections is based upon clinical and epidemiological information and serological tests. It is particularly important to avoid to contact with rodents because of hantavirus-related infections result in high mortality rate and in view of the present situation of missing effective antiviral drugs. Even if there are available some vaccines that used in China and South Korea any of them approved by World Health Organization. This manuscript is prepared to notice the Hantavirus-related infection which is expected to increase in the near future in Turkey and review the control and prevention measures.

Key words: Hantavirus, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, HFRS, hantavirus pulmoner syndrome, HPS, Turkey, prevention, rodent control

Article Language: Turkish English