Hantaviruses are found world-wide and are associated with two severe disease syndromes, hemorrhagic fever and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome. The recent studies in this volume provide a basis for understanding the high human pathogenicity of theses viruses and their continued maintenance and transmission within rodent populations.

Old-World Hantaviruses: Global Status is one in a series of GIDEON ebooks which summarize the status of individual infectious diseases, in every country of the world. Data are based on the GIDEON database (www.gideononline.com) which relies on standard text books, peer-review journals, Health Ministry reports and ProMED, supplemented by an ongoing search of the medical literature. Chapters are arranged alphabetically, by country name. Each section is divided into six subsections. 1. Descriptive epidemiology 2. Summary of clinical features 3. Global status of the disease 4. Potential use in Bioterrorism 5. Status of the disease in a specific country 6. References

Presents new information on a family of viruses that are not only interesting to genetic researchers, but are posing an increasing threat to humans in such forms as Rift Valley disease throughout Africa and severe respiratory infection in the US. The topics include taxonomy, the molecular biology of five genera, assembly and intracellular protein transport, genetics, four associated diseases, comparative features of the family, and evolution. Each chapter is self-contained. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR