A new arenavirus associated with hemorrhagic fever
Four rodent-borne arenaviruses are known to cause hemorrhagic fever in the New World. These include Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, and Sabia viruses, which are found in rural areas of Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, and Brazil, respectively. In December 2003 and January 2004, a small number of hemorrhagic fever cases were reported in rural Bolivia in an area outside the known Machupo HF endemic zone, and sera from one fatal case was available for laboratory testing. The man had symptoms similar to those seen with other arenaviral hemorrhagic fever cases acute febrile illness beginning with headache, joint and muscle pain, and vomiting and rapidly progressed to shock, bleeding, and death at 14 days post onset of illness. Virus was isolated from two of the patient’s serum samples and identified as an arenavirus by reaction of virus infected cells with arenavirus-specific antibodies and by genetic detection techniques (PCR).
A team consisting of Bolivian health authorities, U.S. Navy health experts based in Lima, Peru, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has now characterized Chapare arenavirus, a previously unrecognized arenavirus, discovered in serum samples from this patient in rural Bolivia. Named after the Chapare River in the eastern foothills of the Andes, the new Chapare arenavirus produces clinical hemorrhagic symptoms similar to those associated with other New World arenaviruses, such as the Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, and Sabia viruses. Genetically, however, Chapare is different from each. Junin, Machupo and Guanarito viruses have been associated with large outbreaks of hemorrhagic fever. Initial symptoms often include fever, malaise, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia, followed later by hemorrhagic symptoms. Untreated, more severe neurologic and/or hemorrhagic symptoms may develop, and death occurs in up to 30%. In this study, the authors first tested for yellow fever and dengue hemorrhagic fevers, but results were negative. Tests for Machupo and other related viruses also were negative. Sequence analysis of specific segments of the virus later confirmed it as a unique member of the Clade B New World Arenaviruses. Due to the remote nature of the region where the case occurred, only a limited description of a possible cluster of cases in the area was determined.
Further surveillance and ecological investigations should clarify the nature of the health threat posed by the Chapare virus, and give us better information on the source of human infection, says CDC virologist Tom Ksiazek of the Special Pathogens Branch. We need to learn more about this virus: how it is related to the other arenaviruses, how it causes disease, where it lives in nature, says Ksiazek. Together with our colleagues in Bolivia and Peru, we’re anticipating a more intensive investigation that improves our understanding of the virus, the disease it causes, and its ecology.
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Tags: arenavirus
This is very strange. Out of nowhere there is a new deadly virus set in Chapare, the area where coca-leave growers live. I figure the best plan is to start a deadly epidemic that will disrupt the population in the area and cause death. That population is the most beneficial to the new government of Evo Morales and his leftist party. They supported him so he could reach the presidency since 1998. They have affected greatly the white (European/Middle Eastern) elite in Santa Cruz. So it is not too far-fetched to think an agency (?) thought on a better way to get rid of the coca peasants because who needs more leftist centers in South America. Besides, they are just Bolivia indians.
With all respect to scientist and medical professional, we know it is possible to create new viruses thru mutations and DNA studies to make them deadly to a desired degree. There are billions of dollars invested in research activities. Why would not be possible to think some group has come up with a plan to control a population that is giving US or Europe drug problems? Coca growers in Chapare are not stopping regardless of all the efforts made by agencies to stop the production of the leave since the 90′s. So this virus can be the only effective way. Is this too crazy or cliché to accept this possibility? Or can we say all scientific efforts in the world are set for good purposes only with no possibility of corruption?
Ah a conspiracy theorist. i suggest you look up Occam’s Razor on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occams_razor