Emerging viruses: the case 'hantavirus'.

This review briefly summarises the recent knowledge about hantavirus infections and raises particular problems in hantavirus research that need further investigation. The following questions are addressed: (i) are hantaviruses distributed worldwide and what leads to new outbreaks, (ii) what is known about hantavirus evolution, (iii) how can hantavirus species be defined, (iv) what are the determinants of hantavirus pathogenesis in humans, and (v) what problems are associated with the development of new vaccines and antiviral therapeutics.