Hantavirus infections in The Netherlands: epidemiology and disease.

A serological survey for the prevalence of hantavirus infections in The Netherlands was carried out on > 10,000 sera, from selected human populations, and different feral and domestic animal species. Hantavirus-specific antibodies were found in about 1% of patients suspected of acute leptospirosis, 10% of patients with acute nephropathia, and in less than 0.1% haemodialysis and renal transplant patients. Among individuals with a suspected occupational risk, 6% of animal trappers, 4% of forestry workers, 2% of laboratory workers and 0.4% of farmers were seropositive. The majority of the sero... Mehr ...