Material proximities and hotspots: toward an anthropology of viral hemorrhagic fevers.

This article outlines a research program for an anthropology of viral hemorrhagic fevers (collectively known as VHFs). It begins by reviewing the social science literature on Ebola, Marburg, and Lassa fevers and charting areas for future ethnographic attention. We theoretically elaborate the hotspot as a way of integrating analysis of the two routes of VHF infection: from animal reservoirs to humans and between humans. Drawing together recent anthropological investigations of human-animal entanglements with an ethnographic interest in the social production of space, we seek to enrich conceptualizations of viral movement by elaborating the circumstances through which viruses, humans, objects, and animals come into contact. We suggest that attention to the material proximities-between animals, humans, and objects-that constitute the hotspot opens a frontier site for critical and methodological development in medical anthropology and for future collaborations in VHF management and control.

Management of viral haemorrhagic fever in the Netherlands.

Two cases of Lassa fever have been reported in the Netherlands since viral haemorrhagic fevers became notifiable diseases in 1978. In 1980, an expatriate from Burkina Faso who was not seriously ill was confirmed by laboratory tests after his discharge from hospital. The second case occurred in 2000: the patient died on the 11th day of admission to hospital. The problems we faced in the management of this case and the contact investigation--more than one hundred contacts - highlighted the need for national recommendations in the Netherlands.

Filovirus activity among selected ethnic groups inhabiting the tropical forest of equatorial Africa.

Seroepidemiological surveys were conducted to determine the frequency and distribution of filovirus activity among selected ethnic groups inhabiting the tropical forests of the Central African Republic. 427 serum specimens were collected from hunter-gatherers and subsistence farmers living in forest environs in the Lobaye District south of the river Lobaye and west of the river Oubangui. Striking serological evidence for filovirus activity was found in both populations. Ebola virus appears to be the most active filovirus; 17.6% (75/427) of the Lobaye survey population were seropositive for Ebola virus reactive antibody while 1.2% (5/427) were seroreactive with Marburg viral antigens. Ethnic background appeared to be an important risk factor influencing filovirus exposure in the forest communities. The filovirus antibody prevalence among 21-40 years old male Aka Pygmy hunter-gatherers was significantly (P = 0.03) 3 times higher (37.5%) than that in similarly aged male Monzombo and Mbati subsistence farmers (13.2%). Continued epidemiological investigations are needed to define ethnic-related events influencing human filovirus activity in the Congo basin of equatorial Africa.

[Sero-epidemiological study in Mauritania (1985-1986): incidence of treponematosis, hepatitis B virus, HIV virus and viral hemorrhagic fevers]. / Etude séro-épidémiologique en Mauritanie (1985-1986): fréquence des tréponématoses, du virus de l'hépatite B, du virus VIH et des fièvres hémorragiques virales.

A serological serosurvey was made in different ethnic groups of Mauritania in 1985. A very high prevalence of hepatitis B markers was found with more than 20% of HBs antigen carriers. Treponema specific antibodies in low-age classes observed is a reflect of endemic syphilis. The seroprevalence of antibody against HIV and viral haemorrhagic fever viruses (Rift Valley fever, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) was very low.

PIP: A serological survey in Mauritania in 1985-86 provided data on certain viral and bacterial markers whose frequency has been well established in countries neighboring this gateway between North Africa and subSaharan Africa. Blood samples from 1230 male blood donors and 983 pregnant women at the hospital in Nouakchott were analyzed for treponema infection, hepatitis B, HIV, and for antibodies to certain viruses causing hemorrhagic fever. Positive results for treponema specific antibodies using the Kline reaction were obtained in 76 of 2213 serums examined. High positive rates in young age groups reflect endemic nonvenereal treponematosis. 16 of 218 persons aged 10-19 tested positive compared to 10 of 593 aged 30-39 and 2 of 133 aged over 40. Observed differences between ethnic groups were highly significant. Infection rates were higher among males except among the Poulars. A very high prevalence of hepatitis B markers was found with more than 20% of hepatitis B surface antigen carriers among the 766 samples studied. 88.68% of the 813 subjects studied had been infected with the hepatitis B virus. The results suggest that nomadism, or the hygienic conditions of nomadism, favor contamination by the hepatitis B virus. 3 of the 510 samples examined were positive for HIV. Only 1 of the positive samples was from a Mauritanian, a 28-year-old male Poular. The other 2 positive results were obtained from foreigners temporarily residing at Nouakchott. The prevalence of antibodies against the viruses responsible for hemorrhagic fever was very low: 1/965 for the Crimee-Congo, 2/965 for the Rift Valley fever virus, and 3/965 for the Hantaan virus.