What We Do
Hantaviruses can cause two types of infection in humans: hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in Europe and Asia, and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) in the Americas and, consequently, in French Guiana.
These infections can be severe or even fatal and, although rare, pose a public health challenge. Santé publique France is therefore fully committed to combating these zoonoses, and its efforts focus on two main areas: surveillance and prevention.
Epidemiological surveillance of hantavirus infections
In France, surveillance of hantavirus infections is conducted by the National Reference Center (NRC) for Hantaviruses and its associated laboratory in French Guiana. They perform laboratory tests for hantaviruses, either as a first-line diagnosis or to confirm serological results that are positive or inconclusive from other laboratories. For each diagnostic request, the CNR asks the prescribing physician to complete and return a standardized questionnaire to collect clinical and biological information, as well as details on risk exposures.
Data on confirmed cases are transmitted to Santé Publique France along with a description of trends.
Case definition:
A patient presenting clinical signs consistent with a recent hantavirus infection will be classified:
as a possible case if, in a single specimen, anti-hantavirus IgM is present and anti-hantavirus IgG is absent;
confirmed case if:
in a single sample, anti-hantavirus IgM and IgG are present;
hantavirus RNA is detected in a single specimen;
in a second specimen, the appearance of anti-hantavirus IgG is observed.
Sending a CNR sample
Clinical, Laboratory, and Epidemiological Fact Sheet from the National Reference Center for Hantaviruses
Guyana Hantavirus Fact Sheet
Surveillance Partners
Institut Pasteur CNR – Coordinating Laboratory
Contact: Dr. Virginie SAUVAGE
Tel.: 01 40 61 38 08
Email: virginie.sauvage1@pasteur.fr
Address:
Institut Pasteur, Environment and Infectious Risks Unit, 25–28 rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15
Secretariat: 01 40 61 38 08 - Fax: 01 40 61 38 07 - Email: cnr-hantavirus@pasteur.fr CNR
Hantavirus website: https://www.pasteur.fr/fr/sante-publique/CNR/les-cnr/hantavirus/
Institut Pasteur Guyane CNR-Affiliated Laboratory
Director: Anne Lavergne
Tel.: 05 94 29 58 12
Email: anne.lavergne@pasteur.fr
Address:
Institut Pasteur Guyane Virology
Laboratory
23, avenue Pasteur - BP 6010 - 97306 Cayenne Cedex - French Guiana
Office: 05 94 29 58 01 - Laboratory: 05 94 29 58 27 - Fax: 05 94 29 58 09
Website: http://www.pasteur-cayenne.fr/appui-a-la-sante-publique/cnr-virus/
