Epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in La Guajira, Colombia, 1995
Abstract
In 1995, the first Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) outbreak in Colombia in 22 years caused an estimated 75,000 human cases, 3000 with neurologic complications and 300 fatal, in La Guajira State. Of the state's estimated 50,000 equines, 8% may have died. An epizootic IC virus, probably introduced from Venezuela, was rapidly amplified among unvaccinated equines. Record high rainfall, producing high densities of vector Aedes taeniorhynchus, led to extensive epidemic transmission (30% attack rate) in the four affected municipalities. Native Wayuu Indians, constituting 24% of the state's population, were at increased risk of infection (risk ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-5.3). Epidemiologic studies found no evidence of human-to-human transmission. A higher-than-expected number of abortions during the outbreak confirmed a previously suspected abortifacient role of VEE infection. Pesticide applications and a mass equine vaccination program contributed to preventing the outbreak's spread south of La Guajira.
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New World alphaviruses such as Venezuelan equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis, and western equine encephalitis viruses result in up to 90% of survivors exhibiting encephalitis and neurological sequelae.
“New-world alphaviruses, such as Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE), eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), and western equine encephalitis (WEE) viruses, are spread within the Americas and result in up to 90% of survivors exhibiting encephalitis and neurological sequelae (Mulder et al., 1951; Rivas et al., 1997; Ronca et al., 2016)”
From Arbovirus infection increases the risk for the development of neurodegenerative disease pathology in the murine model (2024) · cites this paper as Rivas et al., 1997
Among the enduring neurological consequences experienced by VEEV survivors, symptoms such as paralysis, sensory impairments, headaches, fatigue, depression, seizures, neuropsychological alterations, and changes in mental status have been most frequently reported.
“Among the enduring neurological consequences experienced by VEEV survivors, symptoms such as paralysis, sensory impairments, headaches, fatigue, depression, seizures, neuropsychological alterations, and changes in mental status have been most frequently reported (Bowen et al., 1976; Carrera et al., 2013; Rivas et al., 1997).”
From Arbovirus infection increases the risk for the development of neurodegenerative disease pathology in the murine model (2024) · cites this paper as Rivas et al., 1997
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References 14 · Cited by 206
- Authors
- Rivas, F., Diaz, L. A., Cardenas, V. M., Daza, E., Bruzon, L., Alcala, A., la Hoz, O. D., Caceres, F. M., Aristizabal, G., Martinez, J. W., Revelo, D., la Hoz, F. D., Boshell, J., Camacho, T., Calderon, L., Olano, V. A., Villarreal, L. I., Roselli, D., Alvarez, G., Ludwig, G., & Tsai, T.
- Affiliations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- Corresponding author
- Tsai, T.
- Venue
- The Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 1997-04
- Volume
- 175
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 828-832
- ISSN
- 0022-1899 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-6613
- OpenAlex
- W2056517678
- Cited by
- 206
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 5.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Journal of Infectious Diseases (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Mosquito-borne diseases and control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Viral Infections and Vectors
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Vector-Borne Animal Diseases
- Keywords
- Venezuelan equine encephalitis, La Guajira, Aedes taeniorhynchus, epizootic, equine vaccination, abortion, human-to-human transmission, pesticide application, arbovirus outbreaks
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Animals, Child, Colombia, Disease Outbreaks, Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged
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