Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: epidemic situation in the Russian Federation

In the Russian Federation, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) occupies the leading place among naturally occurring infectious diseases of viral nature. Epidemically significant are hantaviruses Puumala, Hantaan, Amur, Seoul and two genetic variants of Dobrava/Belgrade virus: Sochi and Kurkino. The reservoirs of hantaviruses pathogenic for humans are rodents from the murine (Muridae) and hamster (Cricetidae) families. The analysis of HFRS morbidity in the Russian Federation over the last decades shows no downward trend. The distribution of HFRS cases on the territory of the Russian Federation is uneven: the most active foci are located in the European part of Russia in the regions of the Urals and the Middle Volga region, as well as in the Far East. More than 95% of hantavirus infections are observed in the European part of the Russian Federation, primarily in the Volga Federal District. Infection of people occurs as a result of industrial and agricultural activities, during shortterm visits to forests, and during cleaning of premises. The analysis of HFRS morbidity in the Russian Federation over the last decades shows no downward trend. The distribution of HFRS cases on the territory of the Russian Federation is uneven: the most active foci are located in the European part of Russia in the regions of the Urals and the Middle Volga region, as well as in the Far East. More than 95% of hantavirus infections are observed in the European part of the Russian Federation, primarily in the Volga Federal District. Infection of people occurs as a result of industrial and agricultural activities, during short-term visits to forests, and during cleaning of premises. Key words: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, morbidity, hantaviruses, epidemic situation