A group of viruses that infect mice, rats and voles and can also infect humans who come into contact with their excreta or secretions. Widely distributed in Asia, the USA and Europe, in Britain hantavirus usually affects rural and sewage workers, as well as people engaged in watersports. Many victims have a mild feverish illness; severe cases are characterised by headache, high temperature, nausea, vomiting and even shock, accompanied by skin PETECHIAE. The kidneys and sometimes the lungs are affected, and in severely affected patients mortality is high.