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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 in recent years has caused several epidemics, especially in West Africa, regularly causing several thousand deaths. According to the CDC, transmission to humans would come from rodents through biological fluids such as blood, urine or saliva. Hospital infections are also possible, but scientists remain cautious about the limited information they have at this time.
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 disaster. In particular, they require better rodent management in inhabited areas.
Test in progress
Diagnosis and treatment of this disease are still in the early stages. No specific drug or vaccine has yet been developed. The CDC explains that the most important thing is to institute “supportive therapy” for patients, which is to provide them with pain relievers, maintain their hydration, and possibly arrange for blood transfusions. Serological screening tests have not yet been developed, making it difficult to identify patients. 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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