Bolivian Hemorrhagic Fever

In 2019, a small outbreak of Bolivian hemorrhagic fever was reported at a hospital in La Paz, Bolivia.  The following background data on Bolivian hemorrhagic fever are abstracted from Gideon www.GideonOnline.com and the Gideon e-book series. [1,2]  Primary references are available from the author. Bolivian hemorrhagic fever (BHF) is caused by Machupo virus (Arenaviridae, Tacaribe complex, Mammarenavirus).  The disease was initially described in 1959 as a sporadic hemorrhagic illness in rural areas of Beni department, eastern Bolivia; and the virus itself was first identified in 1963.  BHF is most common during April to July in the upper savanna region of Beni.  Principal exposure occurs through rodents (Calomys callosus) which enter homes in endemic areas. BHF is one of several human Arenaviruses diseases reported in the Americas: Argentine hemorrhagic fever (Junin virus), Brazilian hemorrhagic fever (Sabia virus), Lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever (Guanarito virus) and Whitewater Arroyo virus infection.  (At least two related diseases are reported in Africa: Lassa fever and Lujo virus infection) Infection of C. callosus results in asymptomatic viral shedding in saliva, urine, and feces; 50% of experimentally infected C. callosus are chronically viremic and shed virus in their bodily excretions or secretions.  C. callosus acquires the virus after birth, and start shedding it through their urine and saliva while suckling.  When mice acqui...
Source: GIDEON blog - Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Tags: Ebooks Epidemiology Outbreaks ProMED Source Type: blogs