Borna virus: Man in Upper Bavaria dies of rare pathogens

In Upper Bavaria, a man died of the consequences of an infection with the rare but dangerous Borna virus. Another man diseased on the virus is currently being dealt with, said a spokeswoman for the Pfaffenhofen district office at the ILM. Both come from the city area of ​​Pfaffenhofen.

The health department currently “intensively” clarifies the possible infection path and is in close contact with the experts from the State Office of Health and Food Safety (LGL).

The Borna Disease Virus 1 (Bodv-1) occurs in the Feldspitzmaus. The animals differ the virus in urine, feces and saliva, as the LGL says.

How exactly the virus is transferred from the Feldspitzmaus to humans has not yet been clarified. Different transmission routes are conceivable – such as the absorption of the virus via contaminated food or water or a lubricating infection via contaminated soil.

In order to protect itself from an infection, the LGL advises to avoid contact with pointed mice and its excretions. Living or dead animals should not be touched with bare hands.

The pathogen has long been known for animals. It has only been proven since 2018 that BodV-1 can also be transferred to humans and mostly causes fatal brain inflammation.

The disease has been reported since 2020. Since then, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) has been transmitted up to six acute cases of BodV-1 encephalitis per report, a large part of the cases in Bavaria, the LGL continues.