The isolation of a Bwamba virus variant from man in Western Kenya

A bwamba group virus was isolated from the blood of a febrile child on the Kano Plain, Kenya. The isolate (NY-45), closely resembling Bwamba, established infection in both Anopheles gambiae and Mansonia uniformis. Neither the Bwamba nor the Pongola prototype strains grew in both species. In gel-diffusion tests NY-45 virus passaged through mosquitoes exhibited a line of identity with Pongola antiserum. In contrast no cross-reaction was observed with NY-45 virus which had not previously been passaged through mosquitoes.