Mayaro Fever

Journal of Special Operations Medicine, Volume 4, Edition 2

Mayaro fever is a mosquito-borne viral illness that is endemic to rural areas of South America near tropical rain forests.7,8 The virus belongs to the family Togaviridae and the genus Alphavirus.

Typical clinical manifestations include the abrupt onset of:

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Myalgias
  • Arthralgias

And may also include:

  • Epigastric pain
  • Backache
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Photophobia
  • Vertigo
  • Dizziness
  • Eye pain
  • Rash
  • Diarrhea during a two to four day course.

The arthralgias are typically the most severe and prominent manifestation, are often temporarily incapacitating, and may persist for up to two months.

Cases of outbreaks and epidemics of Mayaro fever confirmed by virus isolation or serology testing have been documented in:

  • Trinidad
  • Suriname
  • Brazil
  • Bolivia
  • French Guiana
  • Peru.4,6,7,9,10,11

The virus was first isolated in 1954, and the first epidemics described in 1955 in Brazil and Bolivia.

Prevention and Treatment:

  • There are no specific measures to prevent the disease.
  • Prevention includes avoiding mosquito bites in endemic areas by using protective clothing, barriers, and repellents.
  • Treatment is symptomatic and no vaccine is available.2

Source:

Link:

Internal Link:

https://surinamepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Journal-of-Special-Operations-Medicine-Volume-4-Edition-2-ADA497818.pdf

Date:
April 2, 2004
Categories:
Tags:
Boxes:
Years:
2004
Persons:
Download PDF
META DATA
    Scroll to Top