Introduction: Hantavirus diseases are emerging human diseases caused by Hantavirus spp. of the Bunnyaviridae family. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) has been detected in the Federal District (DF) of Brazil since 2004. Among the 27 Brazilian Federal Units, DF has the highest fatality rate. More than 10 years have already passed since then, with confi rmation of cases caused by the Araraquara and Paranoa species. The reservoir is Necromys lasiurus. Methods: Local surveillance data of the confi rmed cases were analyzed, including age, sex, month and year of occurrence, clinical symptoms, syndromes and outcomes, and probable transmission place (PTP). The cases were mainly confi rmed by IgM detection with a capture enzyme immunoassay. The cases were classifi ed as autochthonous if PTPs were in the DF area. Results: From 2004 to 2013, in the DF, 126 cases of hantavirus were confi rmed, and the cumulative incidence was 5.0 per 100,000 inhabitants. The occurrence of cases was predominantly from April to August. At least 75% of the cases were autochthonous. Acute respiratory failure was reported in 47.5% of cases, and the fatality rate was 40%. Conclusions: In the DF, the cumulative incidence of HPS was one of the highest worldwide. A seasonal pattern of hantavirus disease in the dry season is clear. There was a high frequency of severe clinical signals and symptoms as well as a high fatality rate. For the near future, visitors and inhabitants of DF rural areas, particularly male adults, should receive continuous education about hantavirus transmission and prevention.

Most of studies dealing with hantaviruses have focused on people affected by this disease. Few studies have dedicated in the role of the land use and land cover (LULC) type in the hantavirus occurrences. The objective of this study is to analyze the influence of environmental factors in the incidence of hantavirus in the Federal District of Brazil. Probable sites of infection were identified based on the global Moran index (Moran I), local Moran index, and Getis-Ord Gi* spatial statistics analysis. Results showed that the Paranoá, Planaltina, and São Sebastião administrative regions are the critical regions in terms of occurrence of hantaviruses in the study area. altitude, categories of transition, LULC type, and geomorphology were the most important parameters related to the occurrence of the hantavirus disease. This study provides information on the effects of landscape and climatic factors on the incidence of hantavirus. The information can be used to better understand how hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) behaves in the Federal District, providing assistance for public health monitoring strategies and epidemiological surveillance.

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