Could hantavirus be the new emerging pathogen in Kerala?
Presence of antibodies against the virus in blood samples was reported in the State in 2008 itself and one probable case of the virus-induced ‘hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome’ was reported in 2014. Experts say a good number of ‘leptospirosis-like’ illnesses, wherein patients die within four to five days could be due to hantavirus or a co-infection of leptospirosis and hanta. Symptoms are similar and hard to distinguish without targeted serology tests
The HinduPublished: 9 May 2026
Presence of antibodies against the virus in blood samples was reported in the State in 2008 itself and one probable case of the virus-induced ‘hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome’ was reported in 2014. Experts say a good number of ‘leptospirosis-like’ illnesses, wherein patients die within four to five days could be due to hantavirus or a co-infection of leptospirosis and hanta. Symptoms are similar and hard to distinguish without targeted serology tests
