Three men in Germany have died after contracting a new strand of a virus from the squirrels. These men, who are squirrel breeders, developed an infection called encephalitis and died two to four months after its contraction. Reports have shown that these three men developed encephalitis somewhere between 2011 and 2013.
THE SQUIRRELS THAT INFECTED THE MEN ARE VARIEGATED SQUIRRELS
The squirrels that they cared for are an exotic breed that is native to Central America and southern Mexico. These squirrels belong to a species of squirrels called variegated squirrels, a type that is bred frequently and commonly kept as a house pet. Two out of the three men who died were scratched or bitten by the squirrels in their cared. The third man’s contraction of this squirrel virus is still unknown. Scientists conducted a genetic test of one of the squirrels that were being kept and found that they contained this rare virus called a bornavirus.
Later the scientists conducted a more exhaustive examination, and found that the brains of these three men who died were infected by the squirrel virus. They discovered antibodies in the men’s spinal fluid and blood stream. This showed that the men had died after contracting the virus from the squirrels they came in contact to.
squirrel virus LEADS TO DEADLY INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN
Encephalitis makes it difficult to walk, and causes chills, confusion and fever. The ultimate cause of death is due to the inflammation in the brain.
OFFICIALS URGE PEOPLE NOT TO FEED SQUIRRELS
Experts from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control urge people not to feed or get close to the squirrels. However, the threat of contracting the squirrel virus is still quite unlikely.
Encephalitis, a bornavirus, which is commonly found in horses and sheep, was present in the squirrels that scratched or bit the men. This soon caused the aforementioned behavioral and neurological symptoms. Research shows that squirrels were not known to carry this type of virus before. The name of the virus is VSBV-1.
The study that details the findings of the researchers into the virus that killed the men is located in the New England Journal of Medicine.
