Notification of hantavirus infection

What is the issue?

Hantaviruses are a group of viruses carried by rodents that can cause severe disease in humans. Most cases of hantavirus infections are reported in Asia, Europe and the Americas. There has never been a recorded case in humans or animals in Australia.

Under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008, specified conditions and micro-organisms are required to be notified to the Department of Health. These requirements exist to protect the Victorian community by monitoring, preventing and controlling the occurrence of infectious diseases and other conditions.

As of 4 June 2026, hantavirus infection has been made an urgent notifiable condition for medical practitioners and pathology services in Victoria. This means that suspected or confirmed hantavirus infection must be notified to the Department of Health immediately (as soon as practicable and within 24 hours) by calling 1300 651 160. Pathology services must also provide written notification within 5 working days.

Who is at risk?

Hantaviruses can be transmitted to people through:

• contact with rodents or their saliva, urine or droppings.
• breathing in contaminated dust or aerosols in rodent infested areas
• contact with items or materials that have been contaminated with rodents.

Person-to-person is rare and has only been documented for the Andes virus. This is typically limited and occurs from close, prolonged contact with an infected person and is more likely to occur early in the infection.

People who travel to regions where hantavirus infections occur are at risk, particularly if they have been in contact with rodents, their urine, droppings or saliva or rodent infested environments (such as forested, agricultural and unused or unclean urban settings).

People who have had close contact with someone with hantavirus infection with Andes virus are also at risk.

Symptoms

Hantavirus infection can result in severe disease and death. Symptoms can develop from 1 to 8 weeks after exposure to hantavirus. It can present as distinct clinical syndromes.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is often seen in the Americas. Early clinical features may include fever or chills, headache, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. It often progresses rapidly to severe respiratory disease characterised by cough, progressive dyspnoea, hypoxia and pulmonary oedema.

Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome is often seen in Asia and Europe. Early clinical features may include fever or chills, muscle aches, gastrointestinal symptoms, blurred vision, flushed face, inflammation or redness of the eyes and rash. It can lead to hypotension, shock, haemorrhage and acute kidney failure.

Case fatality rates range from 1 to 15 per cent in Asia and Europe and up to 50 per cent in the Americas.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of hantavirus infection can be confirmed through testing:

• nucleic acid amplification testing
• hantavirus serology (IgM and IgG).

Recommended specimens for testing include EDTA blood and serum and should ideally be collected in early illness. For serology, baseline and convalescent samples (at least 10 to 14 days later) should be collected.

Confirmatory testing is available through the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory and must be approved by the Department of Health. Medical practitioners should seek testing advice from an infectious diseases specialist and/or Local Public Health Unit.

Recommendations

For medical practitioners

• Notify suspected or confirmed hantavirus infection to the Department of Health immediately (as soon as practicable and within 24 hours) upon diagnosis by calling 1300 651 160 (24/7) and connecting to the appropriate Local Public Health Unit.
• Consider hantavirus infection in patients with compatible illness AND epidemiological risk factors such as:
  • recent travel to regions where hantavirus infections occur AND have had potential contact with rodents, their saliva, urine or droppings or rodent infested environments; OR
  • contact with a human case of hantavirus infection with Andes virus or their respiratory or bodily fluids.
• If hantavirus infection is suspected, seek urgent advice from an infectious diseases specialist and/or Local Public Health Unit.
• Testing for hantaviruses is conducted at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory and must be approved by the Department of Health. Provide all relevant clinical details and risk factors on the request form.

For pathology services

• Notify hantavirus infection to the Department of Health immediately (as soon as practicable and within 24 hours) by calling 1300 651 160 (24/7), and connecting to the appropriate Local Public Health Unit. Pathology services must also follow up with written notifications within 5 working days.