CE122/14 - Hantavirus

Since 1993, when an outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome was detected for the first time in the southwestern United States of America, several outbreaks or sporadic cases have been notified in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Outbreaks of this disease produce high case-fatality rates and have aroused widespread fear in the affected communities and great concern among the national health authorities. 

In light of this situation, the 40th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (September 1997) adopted a resolution (CD40.R14) calling on the Member States to strengthen the mechanisms for collaboration among the countries and promote information, education, and communication geared toward the community to ensure the adoption of good environmental sanitation practices. That same resolution requests the Secretariat to create a task force to issue recommendations on surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the infection. The task force met in March 1998 to review and approve the guidelines on hantavirus. 

This document summarizes the historical background and current epidemiological situation of hantavirus infection. It also reports on PAHO activities to date in this area and presents a proposal for ongoing activities. The Executive Committee is requested to review this document and to make recommendations on the progress of the surveillance and detection activities of the Bureau in support of the Member States.