A never - before - see to it virus has been reported in Peru that induce a disease similar to dengue fever , malaria , and other tropical infectious diseases common in this region . While the infection was a one - off , the new virus is still likely to be circulating in the jungles of South America somewhere , undetected .
A individual font of the mysteryviruswas date in a 20 - year - old man after he was intromit to Hospital Regional Docente de Medicina Tropical Julio César Demarini Caro in the city of Chanchamayo in Central Peru on June 25 , 2019 , although it was only reported in a put out journal clause in September 2023 .
The patient sought medical attention after experiencing an raiment of symptom , include a high fever , shivering , discomfort , muscle pain in the neck , joint stiffness , a head ache , drowsiness , an intense sensitivity to light , and pain in his eyes .
These symptom are fairly typical of the many tropic diseases that are comparatively common in rural South America , includingdengueandmalaria . However , lab test of his blood samples revealed something much stranger : a new phlebovirus variant .
The well - known phlebovirus is the Rift Valley fever virus , a serious pathogen spread by mosquito that are commonly seen in domesticate animals in sub - Saharan Africa , such as cattle , buffalo , sheep , Capricorn , and camel .
This newly identified phlebovirus is a fairly dissimilar thing , though . Genetic analysis intimate that it ’s an “ Echarate ” phlebovirus that has by nature picked up factor from a “ yet - unidentified phlebovirus ” through genetic recombination .
The scientists who studied the case say their findings argue a refreshing computer virus variant is likely to be circulating in the jungle of Central Peru , although it is unreadable how common it might be , nor which species may be acting as the natural reservoir of the computer virus .
" Our findings indicate that a novel ECHV [ Echarate virus ] variant is circulating in the jungle of cardinal Peru , " the study authors conclude .
“ Ecologic field are necessary to find how widespread the new var. is within this region , to identify potential transmitter and artificial lake involve in its transmission system , and to corroborate decision - making for maintain avail members medically prepared and protected from health and guard threats both on and off duty , ” they added .
It appears the risk from this computer virus is abject . It ’s been several years since the infection occurred and there ’s been no further account of its spread .
Nevertheless , the case is a very actual admonisher that new pathogen are out there and humanity’smeddling with the natural worldmeans it ’s increasingly likely we ’ll come into contact with them .
The case study is published in the CDC journalEmerging Infectious disease .
