Types of Hantavirus: Andes, Sin Nombre, Seoul, Puumala

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is the severe lung-and-circulation illness described in the Americas. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is the kidney-focused grouping described more often in Europe and Asia.

Search results often mix virus names with disease names. A virus name such as Andes or Sin Nombre is not the same thing as a syndrome label such as HPS.

Andes virus is the type named in the MV Hondius outbreak. It matters because it is the hantavirus with documented limited person-to-person spread after close contact.

That is why contact tracing and monitoring are central to the current response.

Sin Nombre virus is often discussed in US HPS references. Seoul virus is associated with rats and has a different public-health context. Puumala and Dobrava viruses are more common in European hantavirus references.