title: Epidemic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in La Guajira, Colombia, 1995.
abstract: In 1995, the first Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE) outbreak in Colombia in 22 years caused an estimated 75,000 human cases, 3000 with neurologic complications and 300 fatal, in La Guajira State. Of the state's estimated 50,000 equines, 8% may have died. An epizootic IC virus, probably introduced from Venezuela, was rapidly amplified among unvaccinated equines. Record high rainfall, producing high densities of vector Aedes taeniorhynchus, led to extensive epidemic transmission (30% attack rate) in the four affected municipalities. Native Wayuu Indians, constituting 24% of the state's population, were at increased risk of infection (risk ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-5.3). Epidemiologic studies found no evidence of human-to-human transmission. A higher-than-expected number of abortions during the outbreak confirmed a previously suspected abortifacient role of VEE infection. Pesticide applications and a mass equine vaccination program contributed to preventing the outbreak's spread south of La Guajira.
authors.affiliation: Colombian Field Epidemiology Training Program, Bogota.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Cardenas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Daza
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruzon
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alcala
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: De la Hoz
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Caceres
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aristizabal
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Revelo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De la Hoz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boshell
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calderon
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Olano
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Villarreal
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roselli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004685:Encephalomyelitis, Venezuelan Equine / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged