Hantaviruses, part of the Bunyaviridae family, are a genus of negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that cause two major diseases: New-World Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome and Old-World Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome. Hantaviruses generally are found worldwide with each disease corresponding to their respective hemispheres. New-World Hantaviruses spread by specific rodent-host reservoirs and are categorized as emerging viruses that pose a threat to global health and security due to their high mortality rate and ease of transmission. Incidentally, reports of Hantavirus categorization as a bioweapon are often contradicted as both US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention refer to them as Category A and C bioagents respectively, each retaining qualitative levels of importance and severity. Concerns of Hantavirus being engineered into a novel bioagent has been thwarted by Hantaviruses being difficult to culture, isolate, and purify limiting its ability to be weaponized. However, the natural properties of Hantaviruses pose a threat that can be exploited by conventional and unconventional forces. This review seeks to clarify the categorization of Hantaviruses as a bioweapon, whilst defining the practicality of employing New-World Hantaviruses and their effect on armies, infrastructure, and civilian targets.

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新世界汉坦病毒的生物防御意义

汉坦病毒属于布尼亚病毒科，属于负义单链 RNA 病毒，可引起两种主要疾病：新世界汉坦病毒心肺综合征和旧世界出血热伴肾综合征。汉坦病毒通常在世界范围内发现，每种疾病对应于它们各自的半球。新世界汉坦病毒通过特定的啮齿动物宿主宿主传播，被归类为新兴病毒，因其高死亡率和易传播性而对全球健康和安全构成威胁。顺便说一下，关于汉坦病毒归类为生物武器的报道常常自相矛盾，因为美国国家过敏和传染病研究所和疾病控制与预防中心将它们分别称为 A 类和 C 类生物制剂，每个都保留了重要性和严重性的质量级别。由于汉坦病毒难以培养、分离和纯化，限制了其被武器化的能力，因此人们对将汉坦病毒设计成一种新型生物制剂的担忧受到了阻碍。然而，汉坦病毒的自然特性构成了可以被常规和非常规力量利用的威胁。本综述旨在阐明汉坦病毒作为生物武器的分类，同时定义使用新世界汉坦病毒的实用性及其对军队、基础设施和民用目标的影响。汉坦病毒的自然特性构成了可以被常规和非常规力量利用的威胁。本综述旨在阐明汉坦病毒作为生物武器的分类，同时定义使用新世界汉坦病毒的实用性及其对军队、基础设施和民用目标的影响。汉坦病毒的自然特性构成了可以被常规和非常规力量利用的威胁。本综述旨在阐明汉坦病毒作为生物武器的分类，同时定义使用新世界汉坦病毒的实用性及其对军队、基础设施和民用目标的影响。