Transmission of Haemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in China and the Role of Climate Factors: A Review

• Main Authors: Alana Hansen, Scott Cameron, Qiyong Liu, Yehuan Sun, Philip Weinstein, Craig Williams, Gil-Soo Han, Peng Bi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2015-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome; China; climate change; surveillance
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971215000387
• ISSN: 1201-9712; 1878-3511

Haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a rodent-borne disease that poses a serious public health threat in China. HFRS is caused by hantaviruses, mainly Seoul virus in urban areas and Hantaan virus in agricultural areas. Although preventive measures including vaccination programs and rodent control measures have resulted in a decline in cases in recent years, there has been an increase in incidence in some areas and new endemic areas have emerged. This review summarises the recent literature relating to the effects of climatic factors on the incidence of HFRS in China and discusses future research directions. Temperature, precipitation and humidity affect crop yields, rodent breeding patterns and disease transmission, and these can be influenced by a changing climate. Detailed surveillance of infections caused by Hantaan and Seoul viruses and further research on the viral agents will aid in interpretation of spatiotemporal patterns and a better understanding of the environmental and ecological drivers of HFRS amid China's rapidly urbanising landscape and changing climate.