Unclear whether he can get better: man (20) becomes infected with mysterious jungle virus

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

Fever, chills, joint pain: at first glance, a construction worker (20) in central Peru had come down with the flu. But when he went to the hospital and had his blood taken, it became clear that he did not have a cold. A virus was found in his blood that researchers have never seen before, the Daily Mail reports.

The virus is a phlebovirus that can be transmitted by sand flies, mosquitoes or ticks. Infections cause high fever, severe headaches, muscle aches and meningitis. So far, only three phleboviruses that cause fever have been found in Peru.

Not a simple mutation

Rift Valley fever is the best-known disease that phleboviruses can cause. People who get it can develop a life-threatening hemorrhagic fever, which causes bleeding from the mouth, eyes, ears and internal organs.

The researchers were able to detect the phlebovirus Candiru in the patient’s blood. However, they discovered features that cannot be explained by a simple mutation. This means: The man was infected with a new virus. It is unclear whether he will recover.

The virus is apparently circulating in the jungle

The disease caused by the virus is similar to dengue fever, malaria and other tropical infections. The case dates from 2019, but has now been published in the journal ‘Emerging Infectious Diseases’.

Scientists believe the virus is likely circulating in the jungles of central Peru. The article does not describe how exactly the construction worker became infected.

To detect new viruses and protect public health, researchers are calling for continuous monitoring of patients with the man’s symptoms. These include fever, chills and headache.

Mysterious increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome

In the summer, Peru made headlines after an unusual increase in cases of the neurological disease Guillain-Barré, prompting the country to declare a public health emergency.

Guillain-Barré syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness. Muscle weakness usually worsens within two to four weeks and can affect the respiratory system. One of the most common symptoms is tingling and weakness in the extremities.

If the disease is treated, it can usually be cured quickly. Guillain-Barré syndrome has been repeatedly linked to Covid-19 vaccinations in recent months. (jmh/AFP)

Source: Blick