title: Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Outbreak of a new disease caused by a new virus.
abstract: Only months after the first report of a brief prodromal illness followed by rapidly progressive noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and death, the causative agent was tentatively identified as a previously unknown hantavirus. Although hantaviral infections are well known in Asia, none had ever been reported in the United States. A collaborative effort between local, state, regional, and federal authorities allowed rapid identification of a new set of clinical and laboratory findings, now known as the hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. Inclusion, exclusion, and confirmatory criteria have been established to help identify potential cases. However, tests for the infection are still experimental, so physicians should send samples to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing in suspected cases. Ribavirin (Virazole) may be beneficial early in the course of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, and supportive care is essential. Rodents, particularly the deer mouse in the Southwest, are the natural hosts for the hantaviruses. Prevention of this new syndrome centers on avoidance of contact with and inhalation of saliva, urine, and feces of infected rodents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, West Islip, NY 11795.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D018804:Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015206:Southwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D012254:Ribavirin