Abstract

SOTOMAYOR P., E.U. VIVIANA  and  AGUILERA S., XIMENA. EPIDEMIOLOGY OF HANTAVIRUS INFECTION IN CHILE. Rev. chil. infectol. [online]. 2000, vol.17, n.3, pp. 220-232. ISSN 0716-1018.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0716-10182000000300006.

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome caused by (HPS) is an emerging disease in Chile, 123 cases of HPS were verified from 1993 to July 2000, including 5 retrospectively diagnosed cases. This disease has especially affected young people (mean 26 years old), most of them were men (75%). The infection threatens persons living in rural communities, during farm and forest or domestic activities. The global lethality has been 49.6%, with variation from 60% in 1997 to 43% in the year 2000. Cases have been reported from the sixth to elevenh regions, the highest risk has been observed in Aysén (1997-1998) and Araucanía (1998 and 2000), being prominent the appearance of clusters in the Araucanía, Bío Bío, Los Lagos and Aysén regions. Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome is an endemic disease with increased incidence during winter and summer time

Keywords : Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome; Chilean epidemiology; National Surveillance System.