What Are the Symptoms of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)?
HPS symptoms may take one to eight weeks after exposure to develop. The disease progresses through two distinct phases. During the first phase, which lasts from two to seven days, the most common symptoms are fever, chills, body aches and fatigue. In some cases, patients also experience headaches, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and abdominal pain.
The second phase of the virus presents itself 4-10 days after the initial onset of symptoms. At this point symptoms progress rapidly as the lungs begin to fill with fluid, and new symptoms include a cough, rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath and chest tightness.
How Hantavirus Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing HPS can be challenging because early symptoms mimic many other infections. Your healthcare provider will get both your medical and exposure history and rule out other illnesses that have similar symptoms.
Blood tests are the primary method to diagnosis HPS. Because this disease is so rare, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CD) supports healthcare providers by providing a method to send suspected hantavirus specimens directly to the CDC for testing and diagnosis.
When to See Your Healthcare Provider
If you have an unexplained fever, body aches, abdominal pain, diarrhea, headaches, dry cough or severe breathing difficulty, you should see a healthcare provider. It is important to mention to your provider if you have been exposed to large rodent populations, their nesting material or waste.
Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel.
Page last updated: May 15, 2026
