Interannual cycles of Hantaan virus outbreaks at the human–animal interface in Central China are controlled by temperature and rainfall

Abstract

Hantavirus, a rodent-borne zoonotic pathogen, has a global distribution with 200,000 human infections diagnosed annually. In recent decades, repeated outbreaks of hantavirus infections have been reported in Eurasia and America. These outbreaks have led to public concern and an interest in understanding the underlying biological mechanisms. Here, we propose a climate-animalHantaan virus (HTNV) infection model to address this issue, using a unique dataset spanning a 54-y period . This dataset comes from Central China, a focal point for natural HTNV infection, and includes both field surveillance and an epidemiological record. We reveal that the 8-y cycle of HTNV outbreaks is driven by the confluence of the cyclic dynamics of striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) populations and climate variability, at both seasonal and interannual cycles. Two climatic variables play key roles in the ecology of the HTNV system: temperature and rainfall. These variables account for the dynamics in the host reservoir system and markedly affect both the rate of transmission and the potential risk of outbreaks. Our results suggest that outbreaks of HTNV infection occur only when climatic conditions are favorable for both rodent population growth and virus transmission. These findings improve our understanding of how climate drives the periodic reemergence of zoonotic disease outbreaks over long timescales.Hantaan virus | spillover to humans | wildlife reservoir | time-series data | climate change

Hantavirus maintenance and transmission in reservoir host populations

“…Meanwhile in temperate Europe, masting induced by warm summers is an important driver of hantavirus epidemics (mostly due to PUUV) [63]. A unique dataset from Central China covering half a century revealed that two climatic variables, temperature and rainfall, play key roles in reservoir host dynamics, and the rate of transmission and risk of Hantaan virus disease outbreaks [64 ]. Climate variables, in particular temperature, precipitation and rainfall, have similarly been highlighted as drivers of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome outbreaks and nephropathia epidemica infections in other areas [58,65].…”

Hantavirus induced cardiopulmonary syndrome: A public health concern

“…In the Asian Continent, China contributes to the majority of the cases. A recent analysis of field surveillance and epidemiological record of Hantaan virus outbreaks in china, spanning a period of 54 years (1960‐2013), revealed that Hantaan virus infections occur only when climatic conditions favor the rodent population growth and virus transmission . The HCPS causing viruses such as SNV and ANDV are found in North and South America .…”

A case-control study on the risk factors for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

“…HFRS is clinically characterized by fever, haemorrhage, kidney disease, headache, back pain, abdominal pain and hypotension [3][4][5]. Every year, thousands of people are infected by hantaviruses in developing and developed countries alike, case fatality rates range from 0.5 to 40% depending on the viral strain [2,6,7]. HFRS cases have occurred mainly in China, the Republic of Korea, and the Far East region of the Russian Federation in Asia, as well as in Finland, Sweden and western and central Europe [4,8].…”