New World hantaviruses

Since the initial description in 1993 of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and its novel aetiological agent, Sin Nombre virus, our knowledge of the epidem iology of New World hantaviruses has continued to evolve. After the identif ying outbreak in the southwestern US, four hantaviruses have been identifie d in North America with specific rodent hosts and associated with a number of sporadic cases. This stability of case recognition in North America is i n contrast to the multiple outbreaks and endemic cases in South America. De spite a plethora of New World hantaviruses and new evidence of person-to-pe rson transmission, the ecological and personal determinants of this human i nfection remain a mystery.