[Rift Valley Fever and phleboviroses in the Central African Republic]. / La fièvre de la Vallée du Rift et les phléboviroses en République centrafricaine.

During 1984 and 1985, six Rift Valley Fever virus strains (RVF) were isolated in Central African Republic, among them five from human samples. Three strains were isolated in 1985 at the end of the rainy season, from sera of patients dead with severe jaundice with haemorrhagic syndrome, what could evoke a little outbreak. At this occasion, these RVF strains and the other strains of phleboviruses previously isolated in CAR, were antigenically compared by Immuno-fluorescent assay (IFA) and Complement Fixation Test (CF), using mice immuno ascitic fluids prepared against each strain. A lot of cross reactions were noted between the different strains, but all the RVF strains seem to have the same antigenic outline.

[Current serologic data on viral hemorrhagic fevers in the Central African Republic]. / Données sérologiques actuelles sur les fièvres hémorragiques virales en République centrafricaine.

During the years 1984-1985, 1,528 serum samples were taken through out the CAR. Of these sera, 319 (20.8%) contained anti-Filoviridae antibodies (Ebola, Marburg). This figure is higher than those found in Cameroon, Sudan, Gabon and Zaïre. Three zones of the country are particularly exposed, the North-East where the population is in the contact with Sudan Ebola, the South-East where it is in contact with Zaïre Ebola, and the South-West where it is in contact with Sudan Ebola. The authors believe that there could exist either a Central African Ebola strain or an Ebola-Like less pathogenic virus which is responsible for cross reactions. Results concerning Rift Valley Fever virus, Congo virus and Lassa virus seem less interesting. However RVF and Congo strains were isolated.