Abstract

Hantaviruses have been around for hundreds of years, but did not gain world recognition until the Korean War when over 3,000 troops were infected with a five to ten percent mortality rate. With many of the species within the Hantavirus genus having a high mortality rate the fact that they are only transmitted by a rodent reservoir has been seen as the human population’s saving grace. The 1995 discovery of the Andes virus species of Hantavirus in Southern Argentina changed that simple blessing as this species was able to transmit not only from the rodent reservoir but from person to person as well. This startling discovery has been verified through epidemiological studies and molecular tests. So far the Hantavirus capability to transmit from person to person has been confined to the Andes virus species and the South American region, but this may not always be the case. Just as the Hantavirus evolves and acquires attributes that increases its threat to the human population so will other viruses around the world.