Deadly Virus Strikes in Upper Bavaria: A Man Dies from Rare Borna Virus, Another Battles the Infection
Individual Perishes in Upper Bavaria Due to Rare Borna Virus Infection - Individual succumbs to uncommon Borna virus infection in Upper Bavaria region.
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A grim tale unfolds in Upper Bavaria as a man succumbs to complications from an infection caused by a rare and treacherous virus—the Borna Virus. Remarkably, another man in the same district is currently undergoing treatment, as stated by a spokesperson from the Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm district administration office. Both unfortunate souls hail from the city of Pfaffenhofen.
The health department is conducting an "intense" investigation to uncover the potential source of the infection, engaging in close collaboration with experts from the State Office for Health and Food Safety (LGL).
The Borna Disease Virus 1 (BoDV-1), lurking within field mice, contaminates the environment through the animals' urine, feces, and saliva, as per the LGL.
Steer Clear of Field Mice, Avoid Infection
The precise manner in which the virus travels from field mice to humans has yet to be unveiled. A multitude of transmission routes remain possibilities, including the consumption of contaminated food or water or ingestion via smear infections through contaminated soil.
For prevention, the LGL recommends keeping a safe distance from field mice and their excreta. Bare hands must not touch live or deceased animals under any circumstances.
BoDV-1 Transmissible to Humans
For a long time, Borna Virus has remained a known affliction among animals, only to be recognized as transmissible to humans in 2018. Typically, this virus results in fatal neurological disorders.
The disease became notifiable in 2020, with up to six annual cases of BoDV-1 encephalitis being reported to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) since then, with a considerable proportion occurring in Bavaria, as the LGL elaborates.
- Virus
- Upper Bavaria
- Pfaffenhofen
[1] Zoonotic and non-zoonotic transmission routes:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/13/4/1001/htm[2] Immune response:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7470607/
Other transmission routes of the Borna Disease Virus 1 (BoDV-1) to humans might include consumption of contaminated food, water, or soil smear infections, as per the investigation ongoing in Upper Bavaria. The medical-conditions and neurological-disorders associated with BoDV-1 in humans can be fatal, as elaborated by the LGL, especially in light of the recent cases in Pfaffenhofen.
