Junín virus and Argentine haemorrhagic fever
Virus Junín y fiebre hemorrágica argentina
- Date
- 1958 · confidence high
- Place
- Junín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Credited to
- Armando S. Parodi and colleagues
- Field
- Life & health
What was discovered
In 1958 the arenavirus that causes Argentine haemorrhagic fever, or 'mal de los rastrojos', was isolated; it is transmitted by field rodents (Calomys musculinus) to maize harvesters. It was identified after outbreaks from 1953 in north-western Buenos Aires province.
A team from the Ministry of Social Assistance and Public Health led by Parodi published the isolation in 1958; the disease had been recognised clinically since 1953.
What it led to
- The Candid #1 vaccine (1985-1990)
- Convalescent plasma as a treatment
- Study of New World arenaviruses