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CHARAmSTICS OF THE DISASTER
EVENT:
Hemorrhagic Fever
DATETIME: February to June, 1969
LOCATION :
Magdalena
DISASLTE VICTIMS : Deaths
16 Cases
24
DESCRIPTION OF THE DISASTER
In February 1969, hemorrhagic fever, with up to 50% fatality rate, erupted
for the second time in the Department of Beni. Hemorrhagic fever is caused
by a virus, machupo, named for a river in the San Joaqui_l? area of the
Province of Beni in Bolivia. The virus is carried by mice which invade the
homes of the population and contaminate whatever they contact. The means
of transmission has been established to be rodent excretia. In 1963-1964
an outbreak of this disease in Bolivia caused 300 deaths. The current
outbreak began in the tiny village of La Cayoba, about 30 kilometers north
of the town of Magdalena in the Beni region. In April three cases were
reported in Magdalena. There was uncertainty regarding the exact origin
of the infection. In subsequent weeks, however, it became clear that the
disease had actually entered the town itself. By 3une 6 a total of 24
cases had occurred with 16 deaths. The carrier rodent was found in houses
of patients. Other smaller villages in the Beni reported cases and deaths
but statistics were not available.
The populace of the Beni became highly emotional over the situation. A
general strike which was organized during the epidemic had as one of its
three crucial demands that the Government take mediate steps to control
the hemorrhagic fever in the region.
Prevention of the disease is obtained by controlling the mouse population
and destroying the vegetation around the affected areas. Continuous
surveillance of rodent population densities within town limits and prompt
application of rodent control measures to lnfested houses is believed to be
the most important phase of disease control.