MACHUPO VIRUS

Machupo virus is a virus from the Arenaviridae family and is the cause of Bolivian hemorrhagic fever (BHF), also known as Black Typhus or Ordog Fever. It was first identified in 1959 by a research group from the National Institutes of Health.Three other arenaviruses cause severe illness in South America, but are responsible for far fewer cases per year. Bolivian hemorrhagic fever, which occurs in savannah regions of that country, is caused by Machupo virus.





Large areas with maize supported huge populations of Calomys mice carrying Machupo virus.National Institutes of Health features of viral haemorrhage include microvascular damage and changes in vascular permeability,fever,prostration and myalgia. Initial symptoms may include conjunctival injection,bleeding gums and cavities, mild hypertension, flushing,  headache, arthralgia, and petechial haemorrhages. Symptoms can further develop into shock and generalized mucous membrane haemorrhage, melena, epistaxis, haematemesis,  haematuria, accompanied by neurological damage such as tremor,coma and seizures.





Commenting on a message that went viral on the social media that P/500 paracetamol tablets contained the virus, Noor Hisham said the Machupo virus is spread through infected rat urine or faces. The Machupo virus cannot survive in a dry environment like the paracetamol tablet.