French Guiana - Analyzes underway after the death of several gold miners, following neurological damage - March 17, 2024 - one confirmed case of rabies

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Maripasoula
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maripasoula

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At least four illegal gold miners died following neurological damage

Between the end of February and March 8, three illegal gold miners died at Cayenne hospital, following neurological damage. At least one other “garimpeiro” died in the forest. The illegal immigrants came from the “Eaux Claires” sector, in Maripasoula.

Laurent Marot • Published on March 17, 2024 at 1:27 p.m., updated March 17, 2024 at 3:19 p.m.

Alerted this Sunday by elements coming from the world of clandestine gold panning via social networks, we were able to confirm the information from reliable sources: at least four gold miners died between the end of February and March 8 for reasons that are still unclear. . Three died in the intensive care unit of the Cayenne Hospital Center “following neurological damage”, according to a hospital source. Another died in the forest, but there could have been one or two more deaths on illegal sites, according to our information. The deceased came from clandestine sites in the “Eaux Claires” sector , in Maripasoula.

At this stage, several hypotheses are considered, including poisoning with one or more heavy metals, a virus or even an infection. The Regional Health Agency (ARS) is monitoring this matter closely. Still according to our information, the gendarmerie research section was seized of an investigation to elucidate the causes of these deaths . Contacted this Sunday, the public prosecutor did not respond to our requests.

https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/guyane/ouest-guyanais/guyane/des-orpailleurs-clandestins-decedent-mysterieusement-1472931.html

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N° 533 lettre du 22 mars 2024 (pdf, 1.12 Mo)


Excerpt (page 4):

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Analyzes underway after the death of several illegal gold miners

Analyzes continue after the death of three illegal gold miners at the hospital in
Cayenne, in recent weeks, following neurological damage, and at least one
fourth in the forest. The victims came from the Eaux claire sector, in Maripasoula, according to Guyana
the 1st. The first clinical and biological assessments did not make it possible to determine the cause.
Informed, the ARS contacted the Emergency Biological Intervention Unit (Cibu) in Paris, to
continue the research. This unit of the Pasteur Institute CIBU is made up of 3 centers
in order to respond 24/7 to biological emergencies by detecting and identifying a
broad spectrum of pathogens (bacteria and viruses): the bacterial identification pole, the
viral identification and the pathogen genotyping center.

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Person infected with rabies dies in Guyana, first documented case in 16 years

Three patients died at the Cayenne hospital, at least one of whom was infected with rabies, the first documented case in sixteen years, the prefecture and the ARS of Guyana said on Thursday.

Published on 03/29/2024 at 00:00, updated on 03/29/2024 at 16:22

Three patients died at the Cayenne hospital, at least one of whom was infected with rabies, the first documented case in sixteen years, the prefecture and the ARS of Guyana said on Thursday.

The three patients had been admitted to the intensive care unit between February 17 and March 1, "from the Eau Claire gold panning site" , in the south of Guyana.

The press release does not specify the dates of the deaths and analyzes are still underway to determine the causes of the death of the two other people.

Until now, the only documented case of rabies in Guyana dates back to 2008, recalled Anne Lavergne, head of the virus/host interactions laboratory at the Pasteur Institute.

“The main reservoir of rabies in South America is the vampire bats Desmodus rotundus ,” she explained to AFP.

This virus is lethal to all species, including humans, except for these bats.

How the victim became infected is not yet known, Lavergne said, adding that it is possible that "an entire colony of bats was infected over a short period of time, leading to a higher probability of encounters." on a localized human population .

Health authorities are tracing people likely to have come into contact with the patient and a public health mission will go to the Eau Claire site, which was illegal, to assess the situation, according to the prefecture and the ARS.

https://www.nicematin.com/amp/faits-divers/une-personne-infectee-par-la-rage-decede-en-guyane-le-premier-cas-documente-en-16-ans-912378

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PRESS RELEASE

Cayenne, Thursday March 28, 2024

A confirmed case of rabies

A health assessment mission to the Eau Claire site is planned.

Between February 17 and March 1, 2024, three people from the Eau Claire gold panning site were
admitted to intensive care at Cayenne hospital and died on average within 10 days following their
admission. The latest results of biological analyzes revealed the presence of the rabies virus on the
samples from one patient at the start of the week, while analyzes are underway for the other two
patients.

In response to this situation, a risk analysis was launched by the ARS in conjunction with the Ministry of
Health and the anti-rabies treatment center (CTAR) for potentially exposed professionals. A
public health mission is planned soon on the site to assess the situation.

While recalling the rarity of human-to-human transmission of rabies, the CTAR is currently tracing
contacts and individual assessment of the risk of exposure of healthcare or laboratory professionals
concerned by this alert, in order to provide a response adapted to each in terms of indication for prophylaxis
post-exposure if applicable.

https://www.guyane.ars.sante.fr/medi...ur%20admission.

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Maripasoula: Ban on access to “Eau Claire” in Guyana following a risk of rabies

Faced with the threat of rabies, the “Eau Claire” sector in Maripasoula is now prohibited. A prefectural decree requires immediate evacuation to counter the spread of the virus.

Eric Leon • Published on April 5, 2024 at 6:42 a.m.

Access to the “Eau Claire” sector in Maripasoula is officially prohibited following an urgent prefectural decree , in response to the detection of the rabies virus in this area. This radical measure was taken to prevent any further transmission, urging those present to evacuate without delay.

From this Friday, April 5, the gendarmerie and the armed forces of Guyana will be mobilized to ensure compliance with this directive. In addition, a post-exposure prophylaxis strategy is being prepared by the Regional Health Agency, in collaboration with Brazilian authorities, targeting those potentially exposed to bites from bats, known vectors of this deadly virus.

https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/guyane/ouest-guyanais/guyane/maripasoula-interdiction-d-acces-a-eau-claire-en-guyane-suite-a-un-risque-de-rage-1478024.html

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Prohibition of access to “Eau Claire” due to the circulation of rabies

Gaëtan TRINGHAM (g.tringham@agmedias.fr)
Friday April 5, 2024

Three garimpeiros from the sector lost their lives between the end of February and the beginning of March. A case of rabies was confirmed among them. Infection with the deadly virus has not yet been confirmed for the other two... but it looks like it.

Frequented by illegal gold miners, access to the “Eau Claire” sector, in Maripasoula, has been prohibited by prefectural decree. A decision justified by the circulation of the rabies virus in the area.

" All people present in the sector are invited to leave the premises as soon as possible. The military forces of the gendarmerie and the armed forces of Guyana will verify the correct evacuation of the sector from this Friday ", assure the prefecture and the Regional Agency Health (ARS) in a joint press release.

“ A post-exposure prophylaxis strategy for people likely to have been bitten by bats ” will soon be deployed by the ARS in consultation with the Brazilian authorities.

Suggestive clinical picture ” for the two other cases

Between February 27 and March 8, three garimpeiros from the Eau claire site died at the Cayenne Hospital Center. At the end of March, the results of biological analyzes confirmed contamination with the rabies virus for one of them. Analyzes are continuing for the other two. But in its order, the prefecture considers that the two other victims have “ a clinical picture suggestive of a rabies infection. ”

A health assessment mission took place on April 2. This made it possible to note the presence of people in the area. On site, the prefecture considers “ that there is a significant risk of contracting the rabies virus from a bat bite .”

Finally, let us remember that the one and only other case of rabies diagnosed in a human in Guyana dates back to 2008.

According to the World Health Organization, “ Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is fatal in almost 100% of cases.”

https://www.franceguyane.fr/actualite/sante/interdiction-dacces-a-eau-claire-en-raison-de-la-circulation-de-la-rage-982194.php

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An assessment mission to Eau Claire, after deaths linked to rabies

Three doctors and two veterinarians went to the area where the
three people died of rabies between February 17 and March 1. They found neither
symptomatic people or animals. Additional doses of vaccine were
delivered to the anti-rabies center of Cayenne hospital. A prefectural decree prohibits access to
Eau Claire.


“Due to the circulation of the rabies virus in the area”, access to the Eau Claire sector,
in the territory of Maripasoula, was banned by prefectural decree at the end of last week,
announced the prefecture of Guyana and the Regional Health Agency in a joint press release.
All people present in the area were invited “to leave the premises as soon as possible.
as fast as we can ".

Before that, a mission was carried out in the sector where, between February 17
and March 1, three illegal gold miners died of rabies – confirmed for one of them,
probably for the other two. Dr Francky Mubenga, monitoring and security doctor
health at the ARS, Benoît de Thoisy, veterinarian at the Pasteur Institute of Guyana and specialist in
rabies, Xavier Beaudrimont, veterinarian in the food service of the General Directorate of
territories and the sea, Dr Maylis Douine, doctor at the Cayenne Hospital Center and good
knowledgeable about the health problems of garimpeiros, as well as Professor Loïc Epelboin, of the unit
of infectious and tropical diseases (Umit), visited the site last Tuesday. The objective
was to carry out a risk analysis in animal health and human health, by identifying
possible symptomatic people, pets sick or not, and in questioning people living on
site based on a questionnaire prepared by Public Health France and its partners.

Frequent bites

The garimpeiros had been informed of this mission by
mediators, via WhatsApp groups and Facebook pages
common. About a hundred were seen out of the 200 to 250 who
would live there. The mission was secured by the Forces
armies in Guyana.

This mission made it possible to inform people about the
actions to follow. When answering the questionnaire, most
reported having been bitten in recent months by bats, but neither
more nor less than in the past. On the other hand,
they did not report a dog bite. As part of
the Orpal 3 study carried out last year (Malakit – Curema project) garimpeiros had already been
questioned on these subjects: 60% said they owned a dog and 57% said they had been bitten
by a bat in the year preceding the study. Almost all (96.9%) reported having
been in contact with bats at the last extraction site they visited.

More HCC vaccines

During the mission, those interviewed confirmed the possibility of a fourth death linked to
the rage, but no more, of a person buried in the forest. No people or animals
symptomatic has not been identified. No garimpeiro had a health condition requiring treatment.
sanitary evacuation. On the other hand, many of them had skin problems.

Post-exposure prophylaxis consisting of several intramuscular injections of vaccine
spread over several days, it was not possible to carry it out on site. The people
met were informed that they can receive the rabies vaccine at the center
delocalized prevention and care (CDPS) in Saint-Georges and Oiapoque. The center of
anti-rabies treatment from the Cayenne hospital received an exceptional order of 300
doses of vaccine last week. Around a hundred were delivered to the CDPS.

In the forest, the importance of sleeping under a mosquito net

These cases of rabies serve as a reminder, if necessary, that it is essential to sleep under a mosquito net
in the forest, even in the absence of mosquitoes. These are likely to prevent bites from
bats and contact with various insects. Except for chiropterologists,
Bat bites remain rare in Guyana.

Last year, several bites were reported along the Shire. Before that, others were
occurred in the Nancibo sector, in Montsinéry-Tonnégrande, in 2014 and 2015. Due to
low radius of action of bats and cyclical circulation of the virus within colonies,
the spatial and temporal diffusion of rabies is very weak.

The only death linked to rabies in Guyana occurred in May 2008, in Rémire-Montjoly. Four years
later, researchers from the Pasteur Institute, Public Health France, the Department of
veterinary services, the Cayenne hospital and the ARS had concluded, in PLoS Neglected
Tropical Diseases, that “the origin of the contamination had not been formally established, even
if an undetected vampire bat bite is by far the most common route of transmission
likely ". They also indicated that one of the victim's cats had died two months earlier, after
was bitten by a bat and that it was possible that it was he who transmitted rabies to the
victim.

In the event of a bat or mammal bite, it is essential to contact the
anti-rabies center of Cayenne hospital, at 0594 39 51 00, Monday to Saturday, from 7 a.m. to
12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Doses have also been placed in the centers
delocalized prevention and care (CDPS). On its website, the Institut Pasteur points out that
“preventative treatment includes cleaning all wounds, immediately after the bite or
scratch (water and soap for 15 minutes) then careful antisepsis (check of
tetanus immunity is also recommended as well as antibiotic prophylaxis in certain cases.
case). »
...

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