A new review article has just been published in Zoonoses, providing a crucial analysis of Chapare virus (CHAV), an arenavirus first identified in Bolivia in 2004. With case-fatality rates exceeding 60% and proven human-to-human transmission during a 2019 outbreak, CHAV represents a severe but neglected zoonotic threat. The study highlights how military-derived CBRNE frameworks—including syndromic surveillance, advanced biodetection, and NATO-style biosurveillance protocols—can be adapted to strengthen pandemic preparedness against high-consequence pathogens.
The authors emphasize how climate-driven rodent migration, deforestation, and the absence of medical countermeasures amplify global risks. They propose integrating One Health surveillance with biodefense infrastructures to mitigate both natural outbreaks and intentional releases, bridging civilian and military preparedness.
This important contribution underscores the urgency of rethinking biosecurity strategies for arenaviruses with pandemic potential.
📖 Full article: https://www.scienceopen.com/hosted-document?doi=10.15212/ZOONOSES-2025-0039
Reference:
Ludovici, G.M., Tassi, P.A., Iannotti, A., Russo, C., Quaranta, R., Giuga, G., Rao, S., & Malizia, A. (2025). Chapare Virus—An Emerging Hemorrhagic Fever
Threat: A CBRNE Perspective on Preparedness and Biosecurity Risks. Zoonoses, 5:37. DOI:
10.15212/ZOONOSES-2025-0039.
We warmly thank Dr. Gian Marco Ludovici for his leadership in this important work.
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