Overview
Belgium is in the Europe hantavirus context. The country has documented circulation of SEOV, PUUV (Seoul virus, Puumala virus).
Puumala virus is endemic in Belgium and is the leading hantavirus cause of HFRS. Seoul virus has additionally been genetically characterised in Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) trapped in Flanders, joining several other European countries with documented SEOV in commensal rat populations.
Sources for the above: Plyusnina et al., J Med Virol 2012 (Seoul virus in Belgian Norway rats)
Reservoir species
- Myodes glareolus
- Rattus norvegicus
Endemic strains
SEOV HFRS
Seoul virus
CFR: ~1–2% (HFRS, mild form)
PUUV HFRS
Puumala virus
CFR: <0.5% (mild HFRS, "nephropathia epidemica")
Signal trend (last 30 days)
Daily signal volume
0 this week vs 0 the week before
25 Aug 9 Sept 23 Sept
Signal volume = mentions in monitored sources (CDC, WHO, ECDC, news in 17 languages), not confirmed clinical case counts. Buckets are UTC days.
