Bayou virus | |
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Virus classification | |
Group: | Group V ((−)ssRNA) |
Order: | Unassigned |
Family: | Bunyaviridae |
Genus: | Hantavirus |
Species: | Bayou virus |
Bayou virus (BAYV) is a species of hantavirus first identified in 1994 in Louisiana. In 1996, the marsh rice rat was identified as the natural reservoir of the virus, indicating the virus to be widespread throughout the Southeastern United States. BAYV infection causes hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) and represents the second most common hantavirus in the United States behind the Sin Nombre virus.