AN OUTBREAK OF VENEZUELAN EQUINE ENCEPHALOMYELITIS IN CENTRAL AMERICA

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Abstract
Franck, P. T., and K. M. Johnson (Middle America Research Unit, Box 2011, Balboa Heights, Canal Zone). An outbreak of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis in Central America: Evidence for exogenous source of a virulent virus subtype. Amer J Epidem 94: 487–495, 1971.—The first major outbreak of equine and human disease caused by Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus (VEE) ever recognized in Central America began in Guatemala during 1969 and now has reached Costa Rica and northern Mexico. The strain of virus isolated was found to possess antigenic and other properties which clearly distinguished it from two other VEE subtypes (I-D and I-E) previously found to be enzootic in the region. The new agent apparently was identical to a subtype (I-B) incriminated in previous outbreaks in Ecuador, including one that occurred on the coastal plain of that country early in 1969. Infections in man and equines caused by subtype I-B also were separable by quantitative measurement of plaque-neutralizing antibodies from those induced by subtype I-E. These data represent the first evidence for the possible introduction of virulent VEE virus from one geographic area to another remote region.

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