Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome: First imported case of hantavirus infection in Taiwan

A patient infected with hantavirus, with resultant hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), is reported. The patient was a 38-year-old man, living in Tainan, Taiwan, who had been visiting Mainland China for 3 months when he suddenly developed fever and chills, generalized myalgia, abdominal pain and petechiae on his chest. He sought treatment in Mainland China. His clinical course progressed through febrile, hypotensive, oliguria and polyuria phases. Supportive care included one course of hemodialysis. He returned to Tainan in partial defervescence. Serologic studies undertaken in Taiwan confirmed Hantaan virus infection, with one of the currently identified hantavirus strains. Hospitalization with supportive care produced further clinical improvement. Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of HFRS when examining patients who have been in endemic areas and complain of fever associated with renal dysfunction, hemorrhage or abdominal pain or both.