Virus Identified

[Abe]

The mystery viral haemorrhagic fever which killed three people in South Africa has been provisionally identified as an arenavirus, the National Institute for Communicable diseases and the Department of Health said on Sunday.

"The causative agent of the disease... may be a rodent born arenavirus related to the lassa fever virus of West Africa," said NICD's Dr Lucille Blumberg.

http://news.iafrica.com/sa/1045302.htm

 

[LazyLion]

Yay! Whatever the heck that is

 

[Abe]

Problem is that it looks like another one of the nurses is sick.

 

[medicnick83]

End of the world is coming... lol!

 

[Blue]

Sounds like a suped up, virus-based black death, what with its rodent vector and all. I'm just glad it doesn't seem to be that easy to contract as only a couple of people have it.

 

[PeterCH]

http://www.nicd.ac.za/

The site is being updated at present but should have updated info as it appears, hopefully, if one can trust the NHLS to update their sites.

 

[lilGr]

I blame the LHC

 

[rwenzori]

Identified my arse! "Provisionally", "an arenavirus", "may be related". NICD site is not updated either.

They don't know wtf it is.

 

[PeterCH]

Which I feel is irresponsible. The Iafrica article has no authoritative source then - so don't trust it.