Treatment of a Laboratory-Acquired Sabiá Virus Infection

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Abstract
Arenaviruses are a group of RNA viruses several of which have the potential to cause a deadly syndrome of hemorrhagic fever. In humans these viruses are usually transmitted by exposure to infected rodent excreta; occasional laboratory or nosocomial infections have been reported.1 Sabiá virus is an arenavirus that was first isolated in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1990 from an agricultural engineer who presented with a hemorrhagic fever syndrome and ultimately died. Necrosis of the liver was found at autopsy. The virus was subsequently characterized as a new member of the Tacaribe complex of the family Arenaviridae.2 A laboratory technician in Brazil who was involved in the characterization of the agent was also infected and had a severe nonfatal illness. Neither patient was treated with ribavirin.2

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