NIH

Zebra of the Week: Chapare hemorrhagic fever

May 28, 2025

Chapare hemorrhagic fever (CHHF) is a rare and often fatal viral illness caused by the Chapare virus, a newly identified arenavirus. It was first discovered during a small outbreak in Cochabamba, Bolivia, between 2003 and 2004. CHHF is classified as a viral hemorrhagic fever, sharing clinical features with other arenavirus infections such as Lassa fever and Junín virus disease.

Symptoms and severity can vary, but the disease typically begins with fever, myalgia, arthralgia, nausea, and vomiting, followed by hemorrhagic signs such as bleeding gums, petechiae, and hematemesis. In about one-third of untreated cases, the illness progresses to delirium, seizures, coma, and death.

Transmission is believed to be zoonotic, likely originating from rodents, with documented human-to-human transmission, including nosocomial spread. Diagnosis is challenging and requires specialized laboratory testing (e.g., RT-PCR). There's no specific antiviral treatment; care is supportive, focusing on fluid management, seizure control, and infection prevention.

• Population estimate: Precise prevalence is unknown, but fewer than a dozen confirmed cases have been reported to date, making it an ultra-rare disease.
• Symptoms: May start to appear at any time in life, typically acutely following exposure in endemic regions.

Source:

NIH GARD. (Accessed 2025, May 23). Chapare hemorrhagic fever. https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/21415/chapare-hemorrhagic-fever