[2] Genetically variant strains of GOUV have been found in black rats in Longquan, China.

In addition, hantavirus strains isolated from R. flavipectus and R. norvegicus in Longquan are most closely related to GOUV.

[3] Like all hantaviruses, transmission to humans is primarily through aerosolized rodent excreta and hand-to-mouth contamination from fomites.

Longquan City, Zhejiang province, China, has a persistently high rate of human infection with GOUV.

[4][5][6] Between 1974-2011, in annual numbers (cases/100,000 population), a total of 20 patients died of HFRS in Longquan, with an average fatality rate of 1.07%.