Hantavirosis.Situation in the American until the year 2001

Abstract

During the last years and throughout the world we have faced the onset of new infectious diseases known as emergent diseases (ED); which in some cases are caused by new etiological agents. In other cases they are just new clinical presentations originated by variants of micro–organisms which are already known.
Inside the wide group of ED, the ones produced by the Hantavirus have been of a special interest. In America the mortal disease has disseminated to several countries which has called the health authorities of the continent to a serious alert situation; since they fear it becomes an epidemic.

The Hantavirus lives in the wild mouse (long tail mice). When transmitted to the man it produces a disease that can be mortal. It exists in almost all the countries around the world.

In America it causes a syndromic fever accompanied by a respiratory insufficiency which has resulted in death in 50% of the infected people.
There isn't an effective vaccine yet; neither exists the cure for this disease, this is why the epidemiological surveillance acquires more and more importance.
The sooner the medical attention is received, the bigger will be the possibility of overcoming the disease. Taking into account the already exposed arguments; we have decided to make a compilation of the data and the epidemiological knowledge which exist up to date about the Lung Syndrome by Hantavirus (LSH).