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Afraid of another deadly epidemic? Scientists from the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently gave a presentation of a Bolivian virus at a conference of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene: Chapare. A disease transmitted to man and which has already claimed victims.
A disease close to Ebola
Fevers, abdominal pain, bleeding gums … The symptoms of this virus discovered in 2003 in Bolivia are similar to those of Ebola, which has caused several epidemics in recent years, especially in West Africa, regularly causing several thousand deaths. According to the CDC, transmission to humans comes from rodents through biological fluids such as blood, urine, or saliva. Infections in hospitals are also possible, but scientists remain cautious about the limited information they currently have.
A low number of deaths
The last episode concerning the Chapare virus dates back to 2019, in the province of Caranavi, in western Bolivia. Five cases were confirmed, resulting in three deaths. So far, the death rate from the disease is 60%. But despite these low numbers, scientists are calling for caution to avoid a health catastrophe. In particular, they require better rodent management in inhabited areas.
Test in progress
The diagnosis and treatment of this disease is in its infancy. No specific drug or vaccine has yet been developed. The CDC explains that the most important thing is to put in place “supportive therapy” for patients, which is to give them painkillers, maintain their hydration and, possibly, arrange blood transfusions. Serological screening tests have not yet been developed, which makes patient identification difficult. Especially since there are other hemorrhagic fevers in Bolivia, such as the Machupo virus. Research will therefore continue to avoid possible outbreaks in the future.
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