Fiebre hemorrágica en Bolivia : Informe sobre el progreso de trabajo de la Comisión

Abstract

The epidemic of hemorrhagic fever (HF) in the Department of Beni came to the attention of the current investigators in May 1962. In mid-1962 the Comisión de Investigación de la Fiebre Hemorrágica del Beni was appointed by the Minister of Health of Bolivia. Late in 1962 it was established that the epidemic was caused by a virus which was identical with or related to Junín virus, the cause of HF in Argentina. During 1963 several viruses, all identical with one another, were isolated from acute and fatal cases of clinical HF in San Joaquín, and from Calomys callosus. The virus of BHF was found to be related to but not identical with both the Junín and Tacaribe viruses, and has been named Machupo virus. Reports suggest that since 1959 about 1,100 cases of HF have occurred in the Provinces of Itenez and Mamoré, with about 260 deaths (24 percent), among a population of 4,000-5,000 persons. During 1963 and 1964 there was evidence of virus activity within the town of San Joaquín itself. During May and June 1964 the rodent population within San Joaquín was systematically destroyed. About fourteen days after initiation of such rodent destruction a sharp drop in human cases occurred. Calomys callosus was the most abundant rodent, lived in close contact with San Joaquín residents previous to the rodent control program and was killed in the

Trabajo de la Comisión de Investigación de la Fiebre Hemorrágica en Bolivia, 16 de septiembre de 1964