Species of virus
Hantaan orthohantavirus (HTNV) is an enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus species of Old World Orthohantavirus. It is the causative agent of Korean hemorrhagic fever in humans.[1][2] It is named for the Hantan River in South Korea,[3] and in turn lends the name to its genus Orthohantavirus and family Hantaviridae.
Natural reservoir
Apodemus agrarius, also known as striped field mouse, is the etiological vector of Hantaan orthohantavirus.[4]
Transmission
Transmission is believed to be through inhalation of aerosolized rodent urine and feces.[citation needed]
Morbidity and mortality
In hantavirus induced hemorrhagic fever, incubation time is between two and four weeks in humans before symptoms of infection present. Severity of symptoms depends on the viral load. Like Dobrava-Belgrade virus, Hantaan virus has a mortality rate of 10 to 12%.[5][6]
History
During the Korean War (1951–1953), more than 3000 American and Korean troops fell ill with kidney failure, bleeding, and shock. The cause remained unknown until 1976 when Karl M. Johnson an American tropical virologist and his colleagues, including Korean virologist, Ho Wang Lee (Lee Ho Wang), isolated Hantaan virus from the lungs of striped field mice.[1][2]
