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Published Date: 2012-02-20 17:01:59
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Hantavirus update 2012 - Americas (06): Chile, Argentina
Archive Number: 20120220.1046646

HANTAVIRUS UPDATE 2012 - AMERICAS (06): CHILE, ARGENTINA
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In this update:
[1] Chile:
- National summary
- Araucania region
- Alto Antuco, Bio-Bio region
- Santa Amalia, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins region
- Los Rios region
- Maule region
[2] Argentina
- Chubut province, suspected

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[1] Chile:
- National summary
Date: Fri 17 Feb 2012
Source: Terra [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited]
http://noticias.terra.cl/nacional/isp-aumentan-a-15-los-casos-de-virus-hanta-en-el-pais,da8a14c869d85310VgnVCM3000009af154d0RCRD.html

This afternoon [17 Feb 2012] the National Institute of Public Health (ISP) confirmed a new case of [a] hantavirus [infection], which increases the number of people infected [this year (2012)] in the country to 15.

The latest case is a 48 year old patient who is interned in the Talca Hospital, whose health status is unknown.

The ISP has developed a national network of laboratories for detection with a rapid ELISA test to provide early diagnosis of cases suspected of having [a] hantavirus [infection]. These centers are located in the regions of Valparaiso, Maule, Bio-Bio, La Araucania, and Los Lagos.

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Communicated by:
ProMED-mail from HealthMap alerts
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[Although not stated, the virus in this report and those below from Chile, is no doubt Andes virus.

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Chile can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1Aht. - Mod.TY]

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- Araucania region
Date: Fri 17 Feb 2012
Source: Radio Bio-Bio [in Spanish, trans. & summ. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.biobiochile.cl/2012/02/17/desarrollan-campana-de-prevencion-del-hanta-virus-en-centros-penitenciarios-de-la-araucania.shtml

[So far this year 2012], the Institute of Public Health has confirmed 3 cases of [a] hantavirus [infection] [in the Araucania region], in the rural communities of Loncoche, Melipeuco, and Carahue, all of whom are progressing favorably. In comparison in 2011, a total of 9 cases were registered resulting in 5 deaths.

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Communicated by:
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[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of Araucania region can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1Oyq. - Mod.TY]

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- Alto Antuco, Bio-Bio region
Date: Fri 17 Feb 2012
Source: La Tercera [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.latercera.com/noticia/nacional/2012/02/680-431410-9-menor-contagiado-de-virus-hanta-fue-trasladado-de-los-angeles-a-concepcion.shtml

During this past Thursday night [16 Feb 2012], a 14 year old youth with a confirmed hantavirus virus infection was transported from Los Angeles to Concepcion. The youth was taken to the Grant Benavente Hospital, following the decision of specialists to treat him in a more specialized pediatric unit, according to statements to La Tercera by the subdirector of Medical Assistance Service of Bio-Bio, Maria Elisa Otto.

The patient is stable in serious condition. He was admitted in the Los Angeles Base Hospital this past 14 Feb [2012], after having become infected at a scout campout at Alto Antuco.

This Friday [17 Feb 2012], the Bio-Bio Health Services authorities will meet with the families of the other 100 people who participated in the campout, to provide them with recommendations about possible symptoms that indicate a suspected infection.

[Byline: Pia Sierralta C]

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[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map of Antuco, Bio-Bio region can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1OwX. - Mod.TY]

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- Santa Amalia, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins region
Date: Thu 16 Feb 2012
Source: Radio Bio-Bio [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.biobiochile.cl/2012/02/16/numero-de-contagiados-por-virus-hanta-en-el-pais-sube-a-trece.shtml

The Institute of Public Health (ISP) confirmed the presence of [a] hantavirus [or antibodies?] in samples taken from a 26-year-old patient who is interned in the Rancagua Hospital.

According to preliminary information the young man contracted the virus in the rural area of Santa Amalia in the Pichidegua community, and began to have symptoms yesterday afternoon [15 Feb 2012], which motivated his going to the Rancagua Hospital.

The regional hospital has not issued an official report concerning this patient. Meanwhile the Health Service initiated a census in the area to determine if the so-called "long-tailed rat" [long-tailed pygmy rice rat, _Oligoryzomys longicaudatus_] is present.

[Published by: Christian Navarro]

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[An image of the long-tailed pygmy rice rat (_Oligoryzomys longicaudatus_), the sigmodontine rodent host of Andes hantavirus, can be seen at http://www.bios.niu.edu/frayjorge/rod6.jpg.

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of Santa Amalia, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins region can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1OwZ. - Mod.TY]

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- Los Rios region
Date: Wed 15 Feb 2012
Source: Radio Bio-Bio [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.biobiochile.cl/2012/02/15/isp-confirmo-primer-caso-de-virus-hanta-del-anno-en-la-region-de-los-rios.shtml

The Institute of Public Health in Santiago confirmed the 1st case in the Los Rios region of [a] hantavirus [infection] this year [2012]. The case is a man from the Corral community who is currently in stable condition in the Valdivia Base Hospital. This was confirmed by the Health SEREMI [regional governmental ministerial unit], Dr Richard Rios, who stated that the patient is a 48 year old man who went to the Corral Hospital due to a high fever, general malaise, and respiratory problems this past 5 Feb [2012]; later was sent to the Valdivia regional hospital on 12 [Feb 2012], where he was admitted.

Richard Rios added that the tests on the patient, who had been working around a trash dump, were sent to the Institute of Public Health, a facility that this afternoon [15 Feb 2012] confirmed the suspicion of the virus [infection] in the patient. Rios indicated that the man was currently stable, without requiring mechanical ventilation so far.

In 2011, there were 7 cases of infected individuals in the region, one in Paillaco, another in Valdivia, and the 5 cases in the Corral community where there were 2 deaths, which resulted in the declaration of a health alert in this community and the implementation of an emergency plan, with inter-agency efforts, that had emphasis on rodent control, weed elimination, and activities to promote education about the virus, among others.

[Published by Alberto Gonzalez; information from Jorge Oyarzo]

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[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of the Los Rios region can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/01eq. - Mod.TY]

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- Maule region
Date: Mon 13 Feb 2012
Source: El Mercurio Online (Emol) [in Spanish, trans. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2012/02/13/525971/salud-confirma-nuevo-caso-de-virus-hanta.html

This morning [13 Feb 2012] the minister of health, Jaime Manalich, confirmed a new case of [a] hantavirus infection in the Maule region. The infected individual is a 6-year-old girl who us interned in the Health Center in Calca city under medical observation.

"The child remains hospitalized after confirmation of being positive for [a] hanta[virus infection]. Up to now, her progress has been positive," the government official indicated.

In respect to the health alert issued for the Bio-Bio region and he northern area of La Araucania, the secretary of state stated that, "We are investigating various new suspected cases on a daily basis, at the rate of 3 each day. Fortunately, this weekend [11-12 Feb 2012] only one new case appeared (...) the frequency of suspected cases is clearly decreasing since the alert was issued this past 27 Jan [2012], " said Manalich.

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[A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of the Maule region can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1mk4. - Mod.TY]

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[2] Argentina
- Chubut province, suspected
Date: Tue 14 Feb 2012
Source: InfoGlaciar [in Spanish, trans. & summ. Mod.TY, edited]
http://www.infoglaciar.com.ar/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19014

This past Saturday [11 Feb 2012], a young woman 21 years old who had arrived from Formosa province in January 2012, died in the Esquel Zonal Hospital. According to a statement by Dr Edgar Schvemer, chief of the Program Area, "it is a case clinically compatible with [a] hantavirus [infection]." He also indicated that they await the results of laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis, which will arrive during the course of the week.

He explained that the place where the infection was acquired is undetermined, however, "we are carrying out relevant field work. We know that she camped for a day in the Lake Futalaufquen area, and she also was involved in cleanup activities in the police academy," he added and stated that "we can not confirm with assurance, where she was infected." Also, he did not discard [the possibility] that she might have been infected in Formosa province.

The Esquel Program Area director said that this is the 1st case detected so far in 2012.

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Communicated by:
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[Cases of hantavirus infections were reported from various parts of Argentina last year (2011). The specific hantaviruses involved in these cases, including the current one above, are not specified.

As noted in ProMED-mail archive number 20110430.1348, several hantaviruses have been associated with human infection in Argentina: Andes virus (western Argentina, in the long-tailed pygmy rice rat host, _Oligoryzomys longicaudatus_); related Andes-like viruses Hu39694 (in central Argentina; rodent host unknown); Lechiguana (in central Argentina in the yellow pygmy rice rat _O. flavescens_); Oran (in northwestern Argentina in _O. longicaudatus_); and Bermejo (western Argentina in _O. flavescens_) virus. Without laboratory confirmation, it is not possible to say with certainty which hantavirus was involved.

If the infection is confirmed and was acquired at Lake Futalaufquen, the virus involved was most likely Andes virus. If the infection was acquired in Formosa province, Lechiguana or Oran viruses are the possible hantaviruses involved in this case.

A HealthMap/ProMED-mail interactive map showing the location of Chubut province can be accessed at http://healthmap.org/r/1MVL. - Mod.TY]

See Also