Hantavirus was first discovered in the early 1950s near the Hantaan River in South Korea. The US has seen this before: the 1993 Four Corners outbreak was the first recognition of the virus in the United States, causing a deadly respiratory syndrome. Now, Hantavirus is in the news again with 17 Americans currently (5.10.26) enroute back to the US for specialized observation. In this episode, we will briefly review what this virus does and cover the SPARSE data we have regarding hantavirus infection in pregnancy.
1. Gilson GJ, Maciulla JA, Nevils BG, et al. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Complicating Pregnancy. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1994.
2. 5.10.26: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/hantavirus-stricken-cruise-ship-arrives-tenerife-rcna344318
3. Janwadkar RS, Ritchie HM, Johnson CA. Unexpected Challenges: A Case Report of Hantavirus Infection in a Pregnant Patient in a Rural Emergency Department. The Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2025.