As of 2019, there had only been four documented infections of Brazilian mammarenavirus: two occurred naturally, and the other two cases occurred in the clinical setting.[8] The first naturally occurring case was in 1990, when a female agricultural engineer who was staying in the neighborhood of Jardim Sabiá in the municipality of
Cotia, a suburb of
São Paulo,
Brazil contracted the disease (The virus is also known as "Sabiá Virus").[9] She presented with hemorrhagic fever and died.[4] Her
autopsy showed liver
necrosis.[4] A
virologist who was studying the woman's disease contracted the virus but survived.[4]Ribavirin was not given in these first two cases.[4] Four years later, in 1994, a researcher was exposed to the virus in a
level 3 biohazard facility at
Yale University when a
centrifuge bottle cracked, leaked, and released aerosolized virus particles.[4][10] He was successfully treated with
ribavirin.[4][11]
A fifth case, also naturally acquired in upstate São Paulo, was reported in January 2020.[12] The patient died 12 days after the onset of symptoms.[13]
Treatment
Ribavirin is thought to be effective in treating the illness, similar to other arenaviruses.[4][11] Compared to the patients who did not receive ribavirin, the patient who was treated with it had a shorter and less severe clinical course.[4] Symptomatic control such as fluids to address dehydration and bleeding may also be required.[11]
^Gandsman, E. J.; Aaslestad, H. G.; Ouimet, T. C.; Rupp, W. D. (1997). "Sabia virus incident at Yale University". American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal. 58 (1): 51–3.
doi:
10.1080/15428119791013080.
PMID9018837.