Crossref · Wavefront propagation in a hyperbolic model of hantavirus infection · 1s agoCrossref · Could bradykinin pathway inhibition change the course of severe hantavirus disease? · 1s agoCrossref · Outbreak at Sea: The MV Hondius Hantavirus Cluster as a Sentinel for Global Pandemic Readiness · 1s agoCrossref · Microbe snapshots: Hantavirus (Sin Nombre) · 1s agoCrossref · Hantavirus on the rise: clinical, virological, immunological, and public health perspectives · 1s agoCrossref · Pregnancy and hantavirus infection: maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes − a systematic review · 1s agoCrossref · Emerging threat of hantavirus infection: Public health challenges during an international cruise ship outbreak · 1s agoCrossref · “Hantavirus at sea: Why cruise ships must be ready for animal-borne disease.” · 1s agoCrossref · Wavefront propagation in a hyperbolic model of hantavirus infection · 1s agoCrossref · Could bradykinin pathway inhibition change the course of severe hantavirus disease? · 1s agoCrossref · Outbreak at Sea: The MV Hondius Hantavirus Cluster as a Sentinel for Global Pandemic Readiness · 1s agoCrossref · Microbe snapshots: Hantavirus (Sin Nombre) · 1s agoCrossref · Hantavirus on the rise: clinical, virological, immunological, and public health perspectives · 1s agoCrossref · Pregnancy and hantavirus infection: maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes − a systematic review · 1s agoCrossref · Emerging threat of hantavirus infection: Public health challenges during an international cruise ship outbreak · 1s agoCrossref · “Hantavirus at sea: Why cruise ships must be ready for animal-borne disease.” · 1s ago
DE · Europe

Hantavirus in Germany.

Germany reports the highest Puumala virus case load in Europe outside of Finland and Sweden, with strong year-on-year variability driven by beech-mast cycles.

HFRSPuumalaCFR <1%
Strain
Puumala
Syndrome
HFRS
CFR
<1%

Germany reports the highest Puumala virus case load in Europe outside of Finland and Sweden, with strong year-on-year variability driven by beech-mast cycles. 2026 is a peak year following a heavy 2025 mast, with Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg reporting more than double their 5-year average through Q1. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) publishes weekly counts; nephropathia epidemica is notifiable. Outdoor workers, foresters, and hikers who handle firewood are the highest-risk groups. Case fatality is below 1% but acute kidney injury requiring dialysis occurs in roughly 5% of admitted patients.

DOMINANT STRAIN
Puumala
SYNDROME
HFRS
CASE FATALITY
<1%
RODENT RESERVOIR
Bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in Bavarian and Baden-Württemberg beech forests.

Active and recent clusters

  • Germany · Bavaria / Baden-Württemberg — 1300 cases, 5 deaths (CFR 0.4%) · Annual pattern; RKI Infektionsepidemiologisches Jahrbuch. Germany reports a strongly cyclical Puumala virus burden — peak years exceed 2,000 cases (e.g., 2012, 2017, 2019), trough years <300. Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg contribute the bulk. Cases are notifiable; verify current weekly counts at RKI SurvStat.

Authoritative sources

Frequently asked

Is hantavirus a problem in Germany?

Yes. Germany is part of the Europe hantavirus surveillance footprint, with the Puumala strain causing HFRS and case fatality typically <1%.

What rodent carries hantavirus in Germany?

Bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in Bavarian and Baden-Württemberg beech forests.

Who tracks hantavirus cases in Germany?

Robert Koch Institute (RKI) — Hantavirus; ECDC — Hantavirus surveillance.

Related

Disclaimer. Country surveillance figures are floor estimates and reflect what national authorities publish. Always confirm with the cited sources.