Serological Evidence of Human Hantavirus Infections in Guinea, West Africa

We recently discovered a novel hantavirus, Sangassou virus, in Guinea, West Africa. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays followed by confirmatory and serotyping assays, we retrospectively detected hantavirus antibodies in 3 (4.4%) of 68 patients with fever of unknown origin in Sangassou village, Forest Guinea. A population-based survey in Forest Guinea (n = 649) found the prevalence of hantavirus antibodies to be 1.2%. Specific neutralizing antibodies against Sangassou virus were demonstrated in serum samples from 2 patients and in 2 serum samples of the serosurvey. Our data allow us to conclude that hantavirus infections may be a significant unrecognized medical problem in at least this part of Africa.