bandavirus

Bandavirus is a genus of segmented, negative-sense RNA viruses in the family Phenuiviridae, order Bunyavirales. Members are primarily transmitted by ticks and can cause febrile illness in humans. Notable species include the SFTS virus (SFTSV), associated with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in East Asia, and Heartland bandavirus, linked to heartland virus disease in the United States. Transmission is mainly through tick bites, with rare reports of human-to-human spread via contact with infected fluids in cases of SFTSV.

Genomes: Bandaviruses have a tri-segmented genome (L, M, S). The L segment encodes the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase; the M segment encodes the envelope glycoproteins Gn and Gc; the S segment encodes the nucleocapsid protein and, in some strains, a nonstructural NSs protein that can modulate the host immune response.

Clinical features: Incubation is typically about 5–14 days. Illness ranges from fever and malaise to hemorrhagic fever with cytopenias and organ dysfunction; severe disease can be fatal, with mortality rates varying by region and outbreak.

Diagnosis and treatment: Diagnosis relies on molecular detection by RT-PCR and on serology (IgM/IgG). There are no approved vaccines or widely effective antivirals; management is supportive. Ribavirin has been used in some settings but evidence for benefit is inconclusive.

Prevention and surveillance: Prevention centers on avoiding tick bites and reducing tick exposure. Public health surveillance monitors human cases, vector distribution, and animal reservoirs to inform risk and response strategies.