HPS Technical/Clinical Information
In May of 1993, an outbreak of unexplained illness occurred in the four corners region of the southwestern United States. A cluster of cases presented with influenza type illness that progressed rapidly to a more severe respiratory disease. Within a couple of weeks a newly identified virus, Sin Nombre, was shown to be the cause of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) and the rodent reservoir was shown to be the common Deer Mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus. Over the years HPS appeared to occur throughout the United States and was found to be caused by at least 10 different strains, each associated with different rodent species. Below is technical and clinical information that describes HPS in depth.
Page last reviewed: August 29, 2012