Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
12:23
Granulocyte-dependent Autoantibody-induced Skin Blistering
Published on: October 12, 2012
Venezuelan haemorrhagic fever
R Salas1, N de Manzione, R B Tesh
1National Institute of Hygiene Rafael Rangel, Caracas, Venezuela.
Lancet (London, England)
|October 26, 1991
Summary
A new viral disease, Venezuelan haemorrhagic fever, was identified in Venezuela. Caused by Guanarito virus, it is a rodent-borne illness endemic to rural areas.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- A severe hemorrhagic illness outbreak occurred in Guanarito, Venezuela, in 1989.
- This led to the identification of a novel viral disease: Venezuelan haemorrhagic fever (VHF).
Observation:
- Fifteen cases were studied, exhibiting symptoms like fever, toxicity, headache, diarrhea, leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hemorrhagic manifestations.
- Facial edema, lymphadenopathy, nausea, vomiting, cough, and convulsions were also noted.
- Patients ranged from 6 to 54 years old, residing in rural central Venezuela, with a fatality rate of 60% (9 deaths).
Findings:
- Infection was confirmed in all cases by Guanarito virus culture or serology.
- Guanarito virus is a newly recognized arenavirus.
- Epidemiological data indicate the disease is endemic and rodent-borne in rural Venezuela.
Implications:
- VHF shares similarities with Lassa fever and other South American arenaviral hemorrhagic fevers.
- Understanding VHF's epidemiology and transmission is crucial for public health in endemic regions.
- This discovery expands the known spectrum of arenavirus diseases.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Methods of reducing fever
The signs and symptoms of fever include hot and dry skin, flushed face, thirst, muscle aches, anorexia, headache, tachycardia, tachypnea, and fatigue. Elevated body temperature is reduced using two methods: pharmacological and nonpharmacological. Proper identification and treatment of the root cause of a fever is of utmost importance.
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
Pharmacological Methods of Reducing Fever:
01:27Assessing Body Temperature - Rectal
Rectal temperature measurement is considered the most precise method for assessing core body temperature and typically registers higher than oral temperature. For adults, the rectal thermometer should be inserted 1 to 1.5 inches into the rectum to obtain the most accurate reading.
Follow these steps for rectal temperature assessment:
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don clean gloves to prevent cross-infection.
Step 2: Position the patient in a side-lying position to better visualize the rectal...
Follow these steps for rectal temperature assessment:
Step 1: Perform hand hygiene and don clean gloves to prevent cross-infection.
Step 2: Position the patient in a side-lying position to better visualize the rectal...
01:22Burn Injuries
Burn injuries occur when the skin and underlying tissues are damaged due to exposure to heat, electricity, chemicals, radiation, or friction. They can vary in severity, from minor superficial burns to severe deep burns that can be life-threatening.
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
The damage results in the death of skin cells, which can lead to a massive loss of fluid. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and renal and circulatory failure follow, which can be fatal. Burn patients are treated with intravenous fluids to offset...
01:26Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF) is a severe tick-borne illness caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, a Gram-negative, coccobacillary bacterium. This pathogen is an obligate intracellular parasite, requiring a host cell for replication. Transmission occurs through the bite of an infected tick. In the United States, the most important vectors are Dermacentor variabilis (American dog tick) and Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky Mountain wood tick), though other tick species may also serve as vectors.
01:22American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
01:20Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two major chronic disorders—ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease—each characterized by relapsing episodes of gastrointestinal inflammation. Although they share certain clinical features, their patterns of involvement and manifestations differ in ways that aid diagnosis and guide management.Ulcerative ColitisUlcerative colitis is limited to the colon and rectum and involves continuous inflammation of the mucosal layer. The disease course is marked...