Strange virus appeared in Bolivia can be transmitted from person to person. It has dengue-like symptoms, making it easy to misdiagnose and potentially cause a strong flare-up.
Researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have discovered a human-to-human transmission of a rare virus in Bolivia. It belongs to the family of viruses that can cause dengue fever, such as Ebola, the Guardian reported.
News of the strange virus shows that scientists are still diligently working to identify the virus threats to humanity, even as the world is fighting the Covid-19 pandemic.
Scientists said two patients passed the virus to three health workers in the Bolivian capital La Paz. One of two patients and two medical staff died in 2019. Previously, the strange virus caused a small outbreak in the Chapare area, 595 km east of La Paz in 2004.
“We have confirmed that a young doctor, an emergency doctor and a gastroenterologist became infected with the virus after being in contact with the patient. Two of them died. We believe many fluids in their bodies may contain the virus, ”said Caitlin Cossaboom, a CDC epidemiologist.
Rats are believed to be the vectors that carry the virus and transmit it to humans. The mechanism of the spread of this virus through the respiratory tract is similar to Covid-19.
Epidemiologist Cossaboom added that people infected with the strange virus had symptoms of fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, root bleeding and a rash, similar to dengue fever.
Because there is no special treatment, patients receive only supportive care such as IV infusion.
The discovery of the strange virus was presented in the annual meeting of the American Association of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, on November 16. It is judged to be very important, as human-to-human transmission may indicate a possible future outbreak.
The virus may have been around for years, but went undetected, researchers say, as it is susceptible to being mistakenly diagnosed with dengue. That can cause the virus to spread quickly if not detected in time.
Scientists are still doing more research to understand its spreading mechanism, in order to find solutions to prevent the spread in the future.