Another death from Borna virus in Bavaria: Health department alerted!

Another death from Borna virus in Bavaria: Health department alerted!

A tragic case is causing concern in Bavaria: a 57-year-old person from the Tirschenreuth district died as a result of the Borna virus. How tz.de Reportedly, the affected person died in a clinic in Regensburg. The exact circumstances of her infection are still unclear; A health department is currently investigating the cause of the death. In the past, two additional deaths related to the virus have occurred in another Bavarian district, Pfaffenhofen.

Borna Disease Virus 1 (BoDV-1) has been known as an animal disease for centuries, particularly as a causative agent of encephalitis in animals and humans. It was only in 2018 that it emerged that this virus can also cause severe brain inflammation in humans. Field shrews, which shed the virus through saliva, urine and feces, can reportedly act as vectors without contracting the disease themselves. It is unclear how exactly the transmission from mice to humans occurs. Possible routes include ingestion through contaminated food or water, inhalation of contaminated dust, or direct contact with the mouse, as shown on the page State Office of Health is explained.

Transmission and prevention

The experts point out that it is important to avoid contact with tree shrews. This includes not storing pet food outdoors and taking special precautions when dealing with dead mice. These should be sprayed with a cleaning agent before being disposed of and disposable gloves and safety glasses are advisable. You should pick up the bag from the mouse upside down and then close it before disposing of it in the household waste.

The list of confounded vectors is long, and it is crucial to know that while other mammals such as horses, sheep and hedgehogs can also be affected by the virus, they are not the typical reservoirs. These so-called dead-end hosts become seriously ill but do not excrete the virus. This also provides information on these aspects Friedrich Loeffler Institute.

Effects of the virus

The symptoms of an infection with the Borna virus are initially rather unspecific and manifest themselves in headaches, fever and a general feeling of illness. As the disease progresses, serious neurological symptoms and brain inflammation may occur. Despite the severity of the disease, human-to-human transmission is extremely unlikely and has not yet been documented, except in medical contexts such as transplants.

Despite the risks, the number of illnesses in Bavaria appears to remain within limits, with only a few documented cases in recent years. However, since March 2020 there has been an obligation to report Borna virus infections in order to detect and prevent possible outbreaks at an early stage. The current situation highlights the need for precautionary measures and awareness of potential health risks when dealing with wild animals.