ETIDIOH - NEW

{Excerpt} Highlights •  A new strain of Lassa virus (LASV) was successfully isolated and characterized. •  The combination of ribavirin and LHF-535 has been demonstrated to exhibit synergistic effects in inhibiting LASV. •  The findings provide new directions for the development of antiviral drugs and vaccines for Lassa fever. Dear Editor, Lassa virus (LASV) is the causative agent of the acute viral hemorrhagic Lassa fever (LF), which is classified into Mammarenavirus within the Arenaviridae family , with a single-stranded, negative-sense, bi-segmented RNA genome. Due to its high pathogenicity and lethality , LASV is considered as a priority threat to public health , with an estimated cases of 300,000 infections and 5,000 deaths annually . LASV was first isolated and described as a clinical entity in 1969 in Lassa, Nigeria (Garry, 2023). LASV isolates of different geographic and host origins are highly diverse in genomic sequences and phylogenetically classified into up t...

Situation at a glance On 7 January 2025, the International Health Regulations National Focal Point for the Plurinational State of Bolivia notified WHO of a laboratory-confirmed case of Chapare virus infection in an adult male from La Paz Department .  Chapare haemorrhagic fever is an acute viral illness caused by Chapare virus .  The virus was first identified in 2003 in Bolivia and has been associated with five documented outbreaks to date, all occurring within the country.  These outbreaks have primarily affected rural areas in the La Paz Department, with the most recent case.  There is no significant risk of international spread of the disease, as person-to-person transmission of the Chapare virus is possible but remains rare in the general population.  As of 13 January 2025, no secondary cases have been reported, and all contacts remain without symptoms.  Public health measures , such as disinfection and rodent control, have been implemented. Descriptio...