Surveillance of hantavirus related diseases

Discover how hantaviruses and associated diseases are monitored.

How many cases are there of hantavirus infections?

About 200 cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome occur each year, primarily in North and South America. The average case fatality rate is 40%.

Between 150,000 and 200,000 cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome due to a hantavirus infection occur each year worldwide. Most of these occur in China, where the average case fatality rate is from 1% to 12%.

The Government is responsible for providing Canadians with essential information on hantaviruses and diseases caused by the viruses. The National Microbiology Laboratory is the only laboratory in Canada that:

  • conducts diagnostic testing for hantavirus infections in humans
  • analyzes trends in hantavirus pulmonary syndrome cases in Canada
  • carries out field investigations into hantavirus infection cases across Canada

Since 1989, there have been 109 confirmed cases and 27 deaths in Canada due to a hantavirus infection. This is accurate as of January 2015.

 

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