Scientists have confirmed the discovery of a new lethal virus in Africa

Rapidly developing life-threatening disease, the onset of which was recently adopted in South Africa, due to a new, unknown virus science. This is specified by a researcher at Columbia University, Ian Lipkin (Ian Lipkin), introduced genetic studies in South Africa performed the virus samples. Outbreak of the disease occurred, the symptoms are similar to hemorrhagic fever in the capital of South Africa, Johannesburg at the end of last month. His first victim was a resident of Zambia, who came to South Africa for treatment. Several later died Zambian paramedic who accompanied a woman, and after him - clean and nurse Johannesburg clinic in contact with the patient. Dead tissue samples were sent for analysis to the laboratory of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Lipkin, studies showed that the virus cause disease in Africans a previously unknown species of arenaviruses. It differs from a known cause of Lassa fever, also to the genus of the arenaviruses and has no relation to the agents of haemorrhagic fever Ebola and Marburg. The scientist said that the new virus infection can be treated with ribavirin. Currently, under the supervision of doctors in South Africa about 100 people were in contact with the victims of the virus.