Cluster of human Puumala orthohantavirus infections due to indoor exposure?-An interdisciplinary outbreak investigation.

ABSTRACT: Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) is the most important hantavirus species in Europe, causing the majority of human hantavirus disease cases. In central and western Europe, the occurrence of human infections is mainly driven by bank vole population dynamics influenced by beech mast. In Germany, hantavirus epidemic years are observed in 2- to 5-year intervals. Many of the human infections are recorded in summer and early autumn, coinciding with peaks in bank vole populations. Here, we describe a molecular epidemiological investigation in a small company with eight employees of whom five contracted hantavirus infections in late 2017. Standardized interviews with employees were conducted to assess the circumstances under which the disease cluster occurred, how the employees were exposed and whic

SUBMITTER: Princk C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9539979 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature