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Hantaviruses are an established cause of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe. Following a confirmed case of HFRS in the UK, in an individual residing on a farm in North Yorkshire and the Humber, a tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England, and the subsequent isolation of a Seoul hantavirus from rats trapped on the patient's farm, it was considered appropriate to further investigate the public health risk of this virus in the region. Of a total 119 individuals tested, nine (7.6%) were seropositive for hantavirus antibodies. Seven of the seropositive samples showed a stronger reaction to Seoul and Hantaan compared to other clinically relevant hantaviruses. Observation of rodents during the day, in particular mice, was associated with a reduced risk of seropositivity. In addition to one region known to be at risk following an acute case, five further potential risk areas have been identified. This study supports recently published evidence that hantaviruses are likely to be of public health interest in the region.

Original publication

DOI

10.3390/v6020524

Type

Journal article

Journal

Viruses

Publication Date

05/02/2014

Volume

6

Pages

524 - 534

Addresses

Microbiology Services, Public Health England, Porton Down, Wiltshire, SP4 0JG, UK. lisa.jameson@phe.gov.uk.

Keywords

Saliva, Serum, Animals, Humans, Mice, Rats, Hantaan virus, Seoul virus, Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome, Antibodies, Viral, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Agriculture, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Middle Aged, Female, Male, Young Adult, United Kingdom