Abstract
Hantavirus disease is the most common rodent-borne viral infection in the Czech Republic with the mean annual incidence of 0.02 cases per 100 000 population and with presence of specific antibodies in 1% of human population. Four hantaviruses (Puumala, Dobrava-Belgrade, Tula, Seewis) circulate in this country, of which hantaviruses Puumala (with mild form of disease called nephropathia epidemica) and Dobrava-Belgrade (causing haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) have been proven to cause human disease.
The aim of this study is to review hantaviruses occurring in the Czech Republic as based on literature published during past 30 years, including their geographical distribution and clinical symptoms. Recent detection of Tula virus in an immunocompromised person as well as reports of Seoul virus infections in Europe highlight possible emergence of neglected hantavirus infections in foreseeable future.