Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome caused by destruction of residential area of rodent in a construction site: epidemiological investigation

Background An outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), caused by a Hantavirus, affected nine adult males in the southwest area of Xi'an in November 2020 was analyzed in this study. Methods Clinical and epidemiological data of HFRS patients in this outbreak were retrospectively analyzed. The whole genome of a hantavirus named 201120HV03xa (hv03xa for short) isolated from Apodemus agrarius captured in the construction site was sequenced and analyzed. In addition, nine HFRS patients were monitored for the IgG antibody against the HV N protein at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Results In this study, inhalation of aerosolized excreta and contaminated food may be the main source of infection. Genome analysis and phylogenetic analysis showed that hv03xa is a reassortment strain of HTNV, having an S segment related to A16 of HTN 4, an M segment related to Q37 and Q10 of HTN 4, and an L segment related to prototype strain 76-118 of HTN 7. Potential recombination was detected in the S segment of hv03xa strain. The anti-HV-IgG level of all the patients persist for at least one year after infection. Conclusions This report documented an HFRS outbreak in Xi'an, China, which provided the basic data for epidemiological surveillance of endemic HTNV infection and facilitated to predict disease risk and implement prevention measures.

Automated summary

This study analyzed an outbreak of HFRS caused by a Hantavirus that occurred in Xi'an in November 2020. The main sources of infection were inhalation of aerosolized excreta and contaminated food. The genome analysis showed that the Hantavirus strain hv03xa was a reassortment strain of HTNV, with potential recombination in the S segment. The anti-HV-IgG level in all patients persisted for at least one year after infection.