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The Chapare virus that causes hemorrhagic fever still holds many secrets. It is not known where it came from, what exactly is its source. However, researchers found that the pathogen can spread from person to person. This is evidenced by infections among paramedics after contact with sick patients. The scientists’ conclusions raise concerns about possible future epidemics.
- Chapare virus belongs to the arenavirus family, one of four groups of viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever
- In 2019, cases of infection occurred near the Bolivian capital. Three of them were fatal. Several paramedics became infected after coming into contact with infected patients
- Authorities recommend that healthcare professionals be extremely careful and avoid contact with objects that may be contaminated with blood, urine, saliva or semen
- You can find more up-to-date information on the TvoiLokony home page
Chapare mysterious virus – what is known about it?
Findings on the transmission of the Chapare virus were presented by scientists from the US government agency Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They were announced at the annual meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH). Researchers also provided preliminary evidence on the species of rodent that may be a carrier of the pathogen.
Chapare virus belongs to the arenavirus family, one of the four groups of viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever – a life-threatening condition that causes multiple organ complications and bleeding. This group of pathogens also includes Lassa virus and Machupo virus, which have caused deadly epidemics in West Africa and Bolivia, respectively.
The virus still hides many secrets. Where it came from, the likelihood of major outbreaks in Bolivia and other parts of South America is unknown, the virus reservoir remains unidentified (though there are some suspicions).
- Coronavirus is not the first. The biggest epidemics in recent years
The Chapare virus appeared in Bolivia in the early twenty-first century. In 2004, a single case of infection was reported in the Chapare province in the western part of the country. In 2019, however, cases of Chapare infections emerged near the Bolivian capital, La Paz. Three of them were fatal. Several emergency workers are known to have become infected after coming into contact with infected patients. Infected with Chapare virus, they suffered from fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding gums, skin rash, and pain behind the eyes.
- Ebola hemorrhagic fever
According to outbreaknewstoday.com, an infectious disease service, “the recent outbreak surprised health authorities because at first they only knew it was a haemorrhagic fever, with symptoms similar to diseases such as Ebola.” This prompted the rapid mobilization of infectious disease experts from the Bolivian Ministry of Health, CDC and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to investigate the causes of the disease, preserve patient samples and develop a new diagnostic test.
Human-to-human transmission of the virus has been confirmed. How can you get infected with Chapare virus?
What did the actions taken bring? – Our work confirmed that a young medical resident, ambulance doctor and gastroenterologist contracted the virus after contact with infected patients. Two of these workers later died, says Caitlin Cossaboom, an epidemiologist at the CDC. “We now believe that many body fluids have the potential to transmit the virus,” he said.
There is evidence that a deceased resident may have become infected while aspirating the patient’s saliva. Another infected ambulance worker was likely infected during resuscitation (survived). Scientists also detected the Chapare virus in the sperm of a sick person 168 days after infection, suggesting that the infection could also be through sexual contact. More research is needed to understand other potential routes of transmission.
The specialist points out that in connection with the confirmation of human-to-human transmission, health professionals and all others dealing with “suspicious cases” must be extremely careful and avoid contact with objects that may be contaminated with blood, urine, saliva or semen.
Chapare virus is transmitted by rodents? Preliminary findings
The source of the 2019 Chapare outbreak in Bolivia has not yet been confirmed. However, it is suspected that the pathogen was transmitted by rodents. The genetic material of the virus was found in rodents living near the home of the first identified patient.
The rodents with the identified Chapare virus were members of the hamster family and the rice beetles. Both are found all over Bolivia and some neighboring countries. However, this finding is not sufficient evidence that rodents are a reservoir for the virus. Nevertheless, this finding may help in future research on the issue.
Scientists believe that the Chapare virus may have been circulating in Bolivia for several years, but infected patients may have been misdiagnosed as suffering from common and symptomatic dengue fever in the region.
While much of the Chapare virus remains unexplored, it is commendable how quickly a team of scientists was able to develop a diagnostic test, confirm human-to-human transmission, and uncover preliminary evidence of the virus in rodents, said the president of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Joel Breman. ‘This is proof that international research teams, equipped with the latest tools and freely sharing their insights, are the best first line of defense against the dangers of infectious diseases,’ he added.
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