Outbreak of Hantavirus Infection in the Four Corners Region of the United States in the Wake of the 1997–1998 El Niño–Southern Oscillation

Abstract

Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), a rodent-borne zoonosis, has been endemic in the Americas for at least several decades. It is hypothesized that the 1991-1992 El Niño-southern oscillation (ENSO) caused increased precipitation that allowed an increase in rodent population densities, thereby increasing the possibility of transmission to humans. The result was a 1993-1994 outbreak of the disease in the Four Corners states of the southwestern United States. A second strong ENSO occurred in 1997-1998, after a period of considerable public education about the risks of hantavirus infection that began during the 1993-1994 outbreak. The caseload of HCPS increased 5-fold above baseline in the Four Corners states in 1998-1999. Regions that had received increased rainfall in 1998 were especially affected. A large majority of the 1998-1999 case patients reported indoor exposure to deer mice. Hantavirus outbreaks can occur in response to abiotic events, even in the face of extensive public education and awareness.

Association between Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Epidemic and Climate Factors in Heilongjiang Province, China

“…4,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12] For example, increased grass seed production followed by heavy precipitation, as a result of the El Niñ o Southern Oscillation (ENSO), was found to be associated with higher Peromyscus maniculatus rodent density in southwestern United States and provides reservoirs for Sin Nombre virus. 13,[15][16][17] However, this result was not duplicated in other areas in the United States.…”

Rapid and Simple Method for Screening Wild Rodents for Antibodies to Sin Nombre Hantavirus

“…The risk of human infection is thought to be associated with high viral seroprevalence and/or high rodent population densities, although this seemingly obvious association has been easier to demonstrate in Europe than in North America (Childs et al, 1994;Niklasson et al, 1995). Hantaviruses are transmitted to humans through inhalation of aerosols or ingestion of virus contaminated rodent excreta, which seems to occur almost exclusively in closed spaces with poor ventilation (Schmaljohn and Hjelle, 1997;Hjelle and Glass, 2000). Human infection, which is fatal in about 40% of cases, progresses very quickly and early diagnosis facilitates effective treatment.…”

First evidence of Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis virus (Arenaviruses) infection in Mus musculus rodents captured in the urban area of the municipality of Sincelejo-Sucre, Colombia

“…en las Américas (9 %), y a la reportada en un estudio serológico del virus LCMV en Argentina, en el cual se encontraron anticuerpos anti-LCMV evaluados mediante ELISA en 9,4 % de los roedores analizados de la especie M. musculus (19). Estos valores dependen de muchos factores que afectan las dinámicas ecológicas del virus y del roedor reservorio, entre ellos, las variables relacionadas con la estructura del paisaje (20), la frecuencia o densidad poblacional (21,22), el efecto de dilución (23,24), la recrudescencia viral (25), la variabilidad climática y la fragmentación del hábitat (26). La gran proporción de M. musculus seropositivos encontrados en esta investigación sugiere que hay circulación del virus LCMV en los roedores urbanos del municipio de Sincelejo.…”