Scientists have identified a new virus in Africa that causes bleeding, such as Ebola virus that is known is chilling.
The virus named “Lujo (LUJV)” is infected five people in Zambia and South Africa in the autumn ago. Four of them died, but the fifth victim can survive after treatment recommendations according to scientists.
“Not clear how people can be infected first. However, the pest came from a family of viruses found in animal does,” said Dr. Ian Lipkin, Columbia University epidemic experts involved in the discovery that, quoted from the Associated Press, Friday (29/5/2009 ).
An article about the virus is written Lipkin and colleagues published online in PLoS Pathogens site, Thursday.
The virus is spread began in September last year, when a woman who work as travel agents in Lusaka, Zambia, sick with fever, which continues to worsen. She then plane to Johannesburg, South Africa, and died there.
The paramedics in Lusaka that she was also treating the sickness, and sent to Johannesburg, and died. Three other victims who are infected health care workers in Johannesburg.
Scientists believe the virus spread from person to person through contact with infected body fluids.
“This is not the type of virus such as flu that can spread wide,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and infectious Diseases, which helped fund this research.
The name “Lujo” taken from Lusaka and Johannesburg, two cities where the virus was first identified.
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