Hantaviruses, primarily carried by rodents, pose a significant global public health concern due to their potential to cause severe human illnesses such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The emergence of HPS in the United States in 1993 marked a significant shift in understanding these viruses, leading to extensive research on their ecology, epidemiology, and genetic diversity. HFRS, historically known in the Eastern Hemisphere, is characterized by fever, hemorrhage, and renal failure, with death rates ranging from less than 0.1% to 10%. HPS, primarily affecting North and South America, is marked by respiratory distress and can lead to shock and cardiac complications. The viruses are transmitted to humans through inhalation of contaminated aerosols from rodent excreta, with human-to-human transmission being rare. The distribution of hantaviruses is widespread, with major reservoirs in murid rodents, and their evolution and genetic diversity suggest limited adaptability to new hosts. Recent outbreaks and the discovery of novel viruses highlight the ongoing threat of hantaviruses, particularly in regions with high rodent populations and poor housing conditions.Hantaviruses, primarily carried by rodents, pose a significant global public health concern due to their potential to cause severe human illnesses such as hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). The emergence of HPS in the United States in 1993 marked a significant shift in understanding these viruses, leading to extensive research on their ecology, epidemiology, and genetic diversity. HFRS, historically known in the Eastern Hemisphere, is characterized by fever, hemorrhage, and renal failure, with death rates ranging from less than 0.1% to 10%. HPS, primarily affecting North and South America, is marked by respiratory distress and can lead to shock and cardiac complications. The viruses are transmitted to humans through inhalation of contaminated aerosols from rodent excreta, with human-to-human transmission being rare. The distribution of hantaviruses is widespread, with major reservoirs in murid rodents, and their evolution and genetic diversity suggest limited adaptability to new hosts. Recent outbreaks and the discovery of novel viruses highlight the ongoing threat of hantaviruses, particularly in regions with high rodent populations and poor housing conditions.