First discovery of hantavirus in Ulleungdo Island, naming Ulleung virus...Causing hemorrhagic fever in nephrotic syndrome
Jul 11, 2025
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A research team led by Professor Song Jin-won of the Department of Microbiology at Korea University School of Medicine (Dr. Park Kyung-min, Researcher Lee Jae-yeon, and Researcher Kim Jong-woo) named a new hantavirus species derived from Crocidura utsuryoensis, which is endemic to Ulleung Island, 'Ulleung virus'.
Hantavirus is a pathogen that mutually spreads between animals and humans and causes nephrotic hemorrhagic fever (HFRS). When infected, it shows symptoms such as fever, bleeding, and renal failure, and the fatality rate in Korea is known to be about 1%.
The research team conducted reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on 62 woolly shrew mice collected in Ulleungdo in 2009 and confirmed Ulleung virus infection in 40 (64.5%). In addition, the full-length genome sequence of Ulleung virus was identified for the first time in the world using next-generation sequencing (NGS).
Additionally, geographical lineage and genome analysis revealed that Ulleung virus is a new genotype that is distinctly genetically distinct from Jeju virus (Orthohantavirus jejuense) identified in Jeju Island and inland from the Korean Peninsula.
Professor Song Jin-won of Korea University's School of Microbiology said "Through this study, we have discovered a new hantavirus that is distinct from the Jeju virus and systematically identified its genetic characteristics and lineage." It also emphasized that "future pathogenicity studies and epidemiological and molecular surveillance are needed to assess the potential pathogenicity and infection potential of the Woollim virus."
On the other hand, the results of this study were published in the July issue of 『Scientific Reports』 under the title 『Discovery and Genomic Characterization of Ulleung virus harbored by Crocidura utsuryoensis on Ulleung Island in Republic of Korea』'.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
