RESUMEN

An outbreak of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome occurred in the province of Los Santos, Panama, in late 1999 and early 2000. Eleven cases were identified; 9 were confirmed by serology. Three cases were fatal; however, no confirmed case-patient died. Case-neighborhood serologic surveys resulted in an overall hantavirus antibody prevalence of 13% among household and neighborhood members from the outbreak foci. Epidemiologic investigations did not suggest person-to-person transmission of hantavirus infection. By use of Sin Nombre virus antigen, hantavirus antibodies were detected in Oligoryzomys fulvescens and Zygodontomys brevicauda cherriei. This outbreak resulted in the first documented cases of human hantavirus infections in Central America.

Asunto(s)

Síndrome Pulmonar por Hantavirus/epidemiología , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Animales , Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Niño , Preescolar , Brotes de Enfermedades , Reservorios de Enfermedades , Femenino , Orthohantavirus/inmunología , Síndrome Pulmonar por Hantavirus/diagnóstico , Encuestas Epidemiológicas , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Panamá/epidemiología , Vigilancia de la Población , Roedores/virología