Primary prevention
Primary prevention entails avoiding rodent excreta-contaminated areas, particularly in enclosed dwellings. Prevention measures include rodent proofing and trapping in and around dwellings and outbuildings, as well as instructions for how to safely care for a pet rodent. People should be advised to avoid contact with rodent droppings, urine, saliva, and nesting materials.[49]
Detailed guidance is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
There are no vaccines available against the hantaviruses that cause hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS).[50] In animal models, immunization with a variety of hantavirus proteins seems to be protective against the infection.[51]
Pre-clinical animal studies suggest potential effectiveness of hantavirus vaccines for prophylaxis of Andes virus (ANDV) infection. However, sample sizes were small, and the evidence was too limited to make conclusions about efficacy.[52] A first-in-human, phase 1 trial demonstrated that an investigational ANDV DNA vaccine induced a robust, durable immune response in humans.[53] mRNA vaccines for ANDV are also under investigation.[54]
Secondary prevention
All cases of hantavirus infection should be reported to state health departments and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC: hantavirus case definition and reporting Opens in new window
Although survival from hantavirus infection may provide lifetime immunity to subsequent infection, the patient should work with local health and rodent-control authorities to rodent-proof their dwellings and outbuildings.[49]
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