Hantavirus and Emerging Respiratory Diseases: Current Clinical, Epidemiological, and Public Health Challenges in a Changing Global Environment

Resumen

Hantavirus infection is an emerging zoonotic disease that continues to pose important challenges for clinical practice, epidemiological surveillance, and public health systems worldwide. The objective of this review was to analyze the current scientific evidence regarding hantavirus infection and emerging respiratory diseases, emphasizing their epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, environmental determinants, diagnostic challenges, and prevention strategies. A structured literature review was conducted using the Scientific Method as the methodological framework. Scientific evidence was obtained from international databases and institutional sources, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google Scholar, the World Health Organization, and the Pan American Health Organization. The reviewed literature demonstrated that hantavirus infection remains strongly associated with rodent reservoirs, environmental changes, occupational exposure, and climate variability. Clinical findings revealed that Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome frequently presents with nonspecific symptoms during the early stages of disease, often delaying diagnosis and increasing the risk of severe respiratory complications. Epidemiological analysis highlighted significant regional differences in disease occurrence, surveillance capacity, and research development, particularly within Latin America. Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador were identified as relevant settings due to ecological conditions that may support viral circulation and zoonotic transmission. The findings also emphasized the importance of epidemiological surveillance, laboratory capacity, professional training, community education, and environmental management as essential components of disease prevention and control. Furthermore, the One Health framework emerged as a valuable approach for understanding the interactions among human health, animal reservoirs, and environmental factors. In conclusion, hantavirus infection remains a clinically significant and epidemiologically complex disease that requires multidisciplinary collaboration, strengthened surveillance systems, and continued research efforts to improve prevention, early diagnosis, and public health preparedness against emerging respiratory threats.