Overview of Hantavirus Infections in the World, the Epidemiological Situation on Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in the Russian Federation in 2021, and Forecast for 2022

Abstract

The paper presents a description of the epidemiological situation on Hantavirus infection incidence in the countries around the world. Comparative analysis of the intensity and dynamics of the epidemiological process of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the Russian Federation by Federal Districts in 2021 has been carried out and forecast of the HFRS incidence for 2022 prepared. The study has revealed that tense situation on incidence of hantavirus diseases was observed in the world in 2021. On the territory of the Russian Federation, there was a decrease in the HFRS incidence in 2021 (by 1.7 times compared to 2020). However, the results of epidemiological analysis of the HFRS incidence, epizootiological data and laboratory studies in certain Federal Districts of the Russian Federation indicate that the epidemiological situation on HFRS remains tense. High risk of HFRS infection is predicted in a number of regions of the country due to the favorable natural and climatic conditions in the winter period of 2021–2022 with a heavy snow cover, which contributed to the under-snow reproduction of small mammals, the main carriers of HFRS. The presence of infected rodents testifies to a high likelihood of complication of the epidemiological situation in areas of increased epidemic risk of HFRS.

Keywords

• hantavirus disease
• hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome
• hantavirus pulmonary syndrome
• forecast of the epidemiological situation