BOLIVIAN HEMORRHAGIC FEVER – BOLIVIA: (BENI)

On Wed 30 Nov 2011, the head of epidemiology of the Departmental [state or province equivalent] Health Department (SEDES), Wilfredo Camargo, stated that strong efforts were made to control an outbreak of the terrible hemorrhagic fever near Trinidad. He indicated that currently 3 brigades are in the Elvira area along the highway to Santa Cruz, 35 km [21 mi] from the capital of Beni [department], capturing and identifying rodents. They are also training community members and students of the educational institutions of this community to avoid spread of the terrible disease, endemic in the Mamore province. “We are moving from Elvira to Trinidad in all the ranches, dairy farms, [agricultural] plots, and rice mills in the area,” explained the physician.

In parallel to this activity, a “zero prevalence” study is being done, that is to say, people who more than a month ago presented with symptoms including fever and pain, are being investigated in order to determine if Machupo virus [antibodies?], which is transmitted by the Calomys callosus, mouse circulated in their bodies.

Camargo reported that 80 per cent of the mice captured — more than 200 in 7 days — have been identified as Calomys callosus, which is the host that transmits the disease [virus].

The specialist expressed his concern because in the 15 years that he has worked in the area of hemorrhagic fever, it has been confirmed that the virus has moved to other provinces, that is to say, it is not just found in the endemic area of Mamore province. In 2004, 2 cases of hemorrhagic fever were detected along the border with Cochabamba [department], at which time the minister of health named the virus Chapare; later other cases were registered in Santa Rosa, on the border with Riberalta [municipality], Ballivian province [Beni].