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What is the mysterious Borna virus that killed 8 people in Germany?

Several cases of encephalitis never explained until now have just been identified by science. All occurred in Germany, they were due to the Borna virus, according to recent work published in the trade journal. The patients, all dead between 1999 and 2019, were part of a study including 56 patients. All had shown signs of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). After analyzing their post-mortem brain tissue, the researchers were able to pinpoint Borna’s disease. The eight patients who suffered from it died between 16 and 57 days after their admission to the hospital.

Borna disease, also known as bornavirus, manifests as fever, headache and states of confusion. As the disease progresses, the signals get worse, such as impaired walking, memory loss, seizures, and progressive loss of consciousness. This disease takes its name from the German city of Borna, in the Saxony region, in Germany, which suffered an epidemic of the disease in horses in 1885. It was then characterized as an inflammation of the brain and meninges of certain animals , especially horses or sheep.

What mode of transmission to humans?

information on the lifestyle of 14 of them. Almost all of them had been in contact with animals, had lived in rural or suburban areas, worked in the agricultural world or had activities outside. Contact with cats has been reported for at least seven of them. “When cats are hunting, they can bring their prey home and expose them […]“data-reactid =” 25 “> Today, Borna’s disease is mainly transmitted by a species of rodent, the two-colored white-toothed shrew, from its scientific name Crocidura leucodon. But according to the researchers, the mode of transmission to humans is still poorly identified. Among the 56 patients observed during the study, there was information on the lifestyle of 14 of them. Almost all of them had been in contact with animals, had lived in rural or suburban areas, worked in the agricultural world or had activities outside. Contact with cats has been reported for at least seven of them. “When cats are hunting, they can bring their prey home and expose them […]

Read more on sciencesetavenir.fr“data-reactid =” 26 “>Read more on sciencesetavenir.fr

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