Clinicians and biologists expect increasing numbers of infections with hantaviruses in Germany this year due to the ongoing strong reproduction of the bank vole and the striped field mouse. The rodents function as reservoirs and spread the virus through their excrements. Dust, contaminated with the pathogen, may be inhaled by humans when sweeping a shed or jogging in the woods.
The major threat of a hantavirus infection is acute kidney failure which can be lethal. The infection must be rapidly diagnosed to avoid severe complications. The diagnosis is usually based on the clinical symptoms and serological investigantions. EUROIMMUN offers ELISA, immunoblots and immunofluorescence assays to detect specific anti-hantavirus-antibodies (IgM, IgG) and therewith ensure a reliable diagnosis of the infection.