4th and Long
05-25-2005, 05:22 PM
If you were looking for another reason to off the fuzzy little varmit, here it is.
Transplant Patients Die of Hamster Virus
May 25, 2005 6:23 p.m. EST
RHODE ISLAND (AHN) - Three transplant patients have died from a virus that originated in a pet hamster.
A Rhode Island woman is thought to have caught the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) from her hamster shortly before her unrelated death last month.
Her organs were given to four people needing transplants. Three have since died as a result of the infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating, but experts stressed LCMV is very rare.
David Gifford, director for Rhode Island's state health department, said that, although donated organs were not routinely screened for rodent viruses, patients on the waiting list for organs should not be concerned.
This kind of occurance is rare, according to Gifford.
LCMV infections have been reported in Europe, Australia and Japan.
According to the CDC, it was only the second time it had heard of transmission of LCMV through organ transplants.
Two people who received the woman's corneas are being monitored - their location has not been released.
The officials are carrying out further tests on the woman's hamster, which was found to be carrying LCMV.
The virus typically causes only flu-like symptoms in humans and is transmitted by contact with the rodent's saliva, urine or faeces.
However, transplant patients are vulnerable to more severe complications because their immune defense system is suppressed by the strong drugs they have to take to prevent their body rejecting the donor organ.
The donor’s hamster, bought at a Petsmart store in Warwick, tested positive for LCMV. More than 100 hamsters, mice and guinea pigs from the store were euthanized and shipped to the CDC in Atlanta, to be tested.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/2234119626
Transplant Patients Die of Hamster Virus
May 25, 2005 6:23 p.m. EST
RHODE ISLAND (AHN) - Three transplant patients have died from a virus that originated in a pet hamster.
A Rhode Island woman is thought to have caught the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) from her hamster shortly before her unrelated death last month.
Her organs were given to four people needing transplants. Three have since died as a result of the infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is investigating, but experts stressed LCMV is very rare.
David Gifford, director for Rhode Island's state health department, said that, although donated organs were not routinely screened for rodent viruses, patients on the waiting list for organs should not be concerned.
This kind of occurance is rare, according to Gifford.
LCMV infections have been reported in Europe, Australia and Japan.
According to the CDC, it was only the second time it had heard of transmission of LCMV through organ transplants.
Two people who received the woman's corneas are being monitored - their location has not been released.
The officials are carrying out further tests on the woman's hamster, which was found to be carrying LCMV.
The virus typically causes only flu-like symptoms in humans and is transmitted by contact with the rodent's saliva, urine or faeces.
However, transplant patients are vulnerable to more severe complications because their immune defense system is suppressed by the strong drugs they have to take to prevent their body rejecting the donor organ.
The donor’s hamster, bought at a Petsmart store in Warwick, tested positive for LCMV. More than 100 hamsters, mice and guinea pigs from the store were euthanized and shipped to the CDC in Atlanta, to be tested.
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/2234119626