Emerging Maripa Hantavirus as a Potential Cause of a Severe Health Threat in French Guiana

• Published in: The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene Vol. 108; no. 5; pp. 1014 - 1016
• Main Authors: Matheus, Séverine, Houcke, Stéphanie, Lontsi Ngoula, Guy Roger, Lecaros, Pablo, Pujo, Jean Marc, Higel, Nicolas, Ba, Absetou, Cook, Fabrice, Djahi, Patrick, Resiere, Dabor, Hommel, Didier, Lavergne, Anne, Kallel, Hatem
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Institute of Tropical Medicine 03-05-2023; American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
• Subjects: Female; French Guiana - epidemiology; Hantavirus; Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome - diagnosis; Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome - epidemiology; Hospitals; Humans; Life Sciences; Male; Middle Aged; Orthohantavirus; Respiratory failure; RNA Viruses; Short Report; French Guiana; Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome; Intense Care unit; French guiana
• DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.22-0390
• EISSN: 1476-1645
• ISSN: 0002-9637

We describe the clinical parameters and management of nine confirmed cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome reported in French Guiana since 2008. All patients were admitted to Cayenne Hospital. Seven patients were men and the mean age was 48 years (range, 19-71 years). Two phases characterized the disease. The prodromal phase was characterized by fever (77.8%), myalgia (66.7%), and gastrointestinal symptoms (vomiting and diarrhea; 55.6%) starting, on average, 5 days before the illness phase, which was characterized by respiratory failure in all patients. Five patients died (55.6%) and the length of stay in the intensive care unit was 19 days (range, 11-28 days) for survivors. Detection of two back-to-back recent cases highlights the reason to screen for hantavirus infection during the nonspecific phase of the disease, in particular when concomitant pulmonary infection and digestive disorders are observed. Specific longitudinal serological surveys must also be used to identify other potential clinical forms of the disease in French Guiana.