Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

Ji Yun Noh, Jaehun Jung, Jin Won Song

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In Korea, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) was first reported in a United Nations (UN) soldier stationed in the central front, also known as the "Iron Triangle". In 1976, professor Ho Wang Lee discovered an antigen in the lung and kidney tissues of Apodemus agrarius. In 1980, this novel virus was named Hantaan virus after the Hantaan river. The Old World Hantaviruses, which are usually found in East Asia and Europe, are generally transmitted to humans via the respiratory pathway during dry seasons, usually in late spring and fall. Currently, 300 - 600 cases per year are reported in Korea with a mortality rate of 1 - 2%. The typical clinical course of HFRS is classified into five phases: febrile, hypotensive, oliguric, diuretic, and convalescent. And treatment for HFRS is mostly conservative. A vaccine for the Hantaan virus was developed in 1988 and marketed in 1990. Because HFRS outbreaks mostly occur in regions near the truce line in Korea, vaccination is virtually the only protection against the virus among military personnel working in such regions and local residents. Therefore, proving the effectiveness of the HFRS vaccine and devising efficient vaccination plans have been considered a major task for Korea's health authorities.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)405-413
Number of pages9
JournalInfection and Chemotherapy
Volume51
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019 Dec 1

Keywords

  • Epidemiology
  • Family hantaviridae
  • Hantavirus
  • Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pharmacology (medical)

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this