Early general symptoms
- Fever and chills
- Headache
- Muscle aches, often in large muscle groups
- Marked fatigue or a strong unwell feeling
- Dizziness
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain
Symptoms and warning signs
Early hantavirus illness may resemble influenza or other fever-related respiratory infections, so exposure context is important.
Breathing red flags
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness or chest pain
- Rapid worsening after a flu-like phase
- Shock-like signs such as faintness, confusion, cold skin, or very low blood pressure
Breathing difficulty after a possible exposure should be handled urgently.
Kidney or bleeding features seen in HFRS
- Low blood pressure
- Reduced urination or kidney problems
- Bleeding tendency or bruising
- Severe back or abdominal pain
- Fluid balance problems that require hospital monitoring
Why exposure context matters
Early symptoms are not clinically specific. A clinician needs details about rodent exposure, enclosed-space cleanup, travel, work-related risks, and any close contact with confirmed Andes virus disease.