Puumala virus causes a relatively mild form of HFRS known as nephropathia epidemica. It is the most common hantavirus in Europe and produces thousands of cases annually, particularly in Finland and Sweden.
| Reservoir host | Bank vole (Myodes glareolus) |
| Geographic range | Finland, Sweden, Norway, parts of Germany, Belgium, France, the Baltics, western Russia |
| Disease syndrome | Nephropathia epidemica (mild HFRS) |
| Case fatality rate | <1% |
| Vaccine | None licensed in most countries |
| Specific treatment | None. Supportive care. |
Puumala virus causes a relatively mild form of HFRS known as nephropathia epidemica. It is the most common hantavirus in Europe and produces thousands of cases annually, particularly in Finland and Sweden.
Cases follow bank vole population cycles, with surge years (mast years following good seed crops) producing several-fold case increases. The CFR is well under 1% — most patients recover with supportive care, though some experience prolonged kidney sequelae.