Historical Events
1933
Isolation of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) from St. Louis encephalitis epidemic study. Although it was not the cause of the outbreak, the virus was characterized as being responsible for aseptic meningitis. Used heavily as a model to observe immune function.
1956
Isolation of Tacaribe virus
1958
Isolation of Junin virus. Causes Argentine hemorrhagic fever. The first arenavirus associated with hemorrhagic disease.
1963
Isolation of Machupo virus in remote Beni province of Bolivia.
1969
- Outbreak among missionary nurses in Lassa, Northeastern Nigeria.
- Lassa virus isolated at Yale ARBO virus unit.
1970
Lassa outbreak studied in Jos, Central Nigeria. 7 dead.
1972
Lassa outbreak studied in Sierra Leone. 64 cases, 23 dead.
1990
Identification of Sabia virus in Brazil. 2 cases, 1 death.
1994
Inadvertant Sabia virus exposure in Yale ARBO laboratory from broken centrifuge tube. 1 ill.
Notable Arenavirus Researchers
Micheal Oldstone
Studied LCMV as an immune system model for persistent viral infection. Helped understand viral immunity.
Sonya Buckley
First isolated Lassa virus in cell culture
Karl Johnson
Isolated Machupo virus, which causes Bolivian Hemorrhagic Fever
More researchers coming soon...