Ion MĂRUNȚELU1, Corina Andreea ROTĂRESCU2, Alexandra Elena CONSTANTINESCU3, Andreia Ioana CONSTANTINESCU4, Ileana CONSTANTINESCU5
Abstract. Hantaviruses are RNA viruses with a tri-segmented genome and a lipid envelope, making them vulnerable to common disinfectants and environmental exposure. The pathogenesis of hantavirus infection in humans is primarily driven by a massive, immune-mediated dysregulation of the endothelial barrier, leading to massive pulmonary edema in Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome or renal impairment and hemorrhage in Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome. The reported hantavirus cases on the ship MV Hondius in May 2026 showed that hantaviruses can affect global tourism flows, requiring immediate response measures at ports and airports. This outbreak could be favoured by global warming and altered rainfall patterns, which have modified the geographical distribution of hantaviruses. The identified cases from Romania and other countries confirm that hantavirus is a major public health issue due to its impact on infected individuals and the widespread difficulties it presents.
Keywords: Hantaviruses, RNA viruses, climate changes, cardiopulmonary syndrome, renal syndrome.
DOI 10.56082/annalsarscimed.2026.1.18
1 Fundeni Center for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
2 Fundeni Center for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania
3 Fundeni Center for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania, “Emil Palade” Center of Excellence for Young Researchers in Scientific Research (EP-CEYR), Romanian Academy of Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
4 Fundeni Center for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania; “Emil Palade” Center of Excellence for Young Researchers in Scientific Research (EP-CEYR), Romanian Academy of Scientists, Bucharest, Romania
5 Faculty of Medicine, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania; Fundeni Center for Immunogenetics and Virology, Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania; “Emil Palade” Center of Excellence for Young Researchers in Scientific Research (EP-CEYR), Romanian Academy of Scientists, Bucharest, Romania, e-mail: ileana.constantinescu@imunogenetica.ro
PUBLISHED in Annals of the Academy of Romanian Scientists Series of Medicine, Volume 7, Issue 1