HANTAVIRUS INFECTIONS IN THE NETHERLANDS - EPIDEMIOLOGY AND DISEASE

A serological survey for the prevalence of hantavirus infections in Th e Netherlands was carried out on > 10000 sera, from selected human pop ulations, and differ ent feral and domestic animal species. Hantavirus -specific antibodies were found in about 1% of patients suspected of a cute leptospirosis, 10% of patients with acute nephropathia, and in le ss than 0.1% haemodialysis and renal transplant patients. Among indivi duals with a suspected occupational risk, 6% of animal trappers, 4% of forestry workers, 2% of laboratory workers and 0.4% of farmers were s eropositive. The majority of the seropositive individuals lived in rur al and forested areas. The main animal reservoir of the infection was shown to be the red bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus). Epidemiologic al, clinical and laboratory findings seen in serologically confirmed h uman cases were similar to those associated with nephropathia epidemic a.