First case of tulvavirus in humans confirmed in Germany

Reams island For the first time, the Tula virus, which occurs predominantly in area mice, has been directly identified as the cause of the disease in an individual in Germany.

Molecular biological evidence of the pathogen related to hentaviruses was done jointly by researchers at the Friedrich Löffler Institute (FLI) and Charit. Berlin Is provided, as reported by FLI on Tuesday.

According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), so far there is little indirect evidence of such infection in Germany.

According to the FLI, a young man in the hospital showed signs of acute renal failure. Further investigation confirmed suspicion of a hantavirus disease.

It was not possible to determine which viruses actually caused the disease. A molecular analysis provided the first molecular evidence of Tula virus infection in a patient in Germany. This work has been published in the journal “Emerging Infectious Diseases”.

“This result now moves field mouse and its associated tulle virus to the focus of hantavus epidemiology and will require better typing of hentavirus diseases in the future,” said Rainer Ulrich, head of the National Laboratory Laboratory for Hantavirus in Animals. FLI

Therefore a joint follow-up study with the Julius Kuhn Institute should determine the prevalence of Tula virus in field mice and other Volts. “In fact due to the large-scale breeding that occurs in the region, the occurrence of human infection with the Tula virus should be monitored more closely,” Ulrich emphasized.

Hantaviruses are transmitted to humans through rodents such as mice and rats. Viruses are usually inhaled, for example through contaminated dust. The virus does not spread from one person to another in Germany. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the number of cases fluctuates.

Infections with hentaviruses usually cause illnesses with flu-like symptoms – high fever, headaches, and body aches; Nausea or vomiting.

The kidneys may also deteriorate, leading to acute renal failure. Only symptoms can be treated. There are no specific medications or vaccinations.

According to information, hantavirus disease in humans in Germany has so far been mainly attributed to the Pumala virus in the bank volcano.

The virus occurs only in the western, northwest and southern parts of Germany. Tulvavirus, which is closely related to the Pumala virus, occurs in all parts of Germany.