title: [Viral encephalitis virus, a new bioterrorist menace].
abstract: Often responsible for little known infections, today viral encephalitis viruses appear as a new bioterrorist menace, because of their easy production and their great pathogenic potential. Spraying is the best way to permit the rapid diffusion of certain encephalitis viruses. Diagnosis of viral encephalitis, predominating in tropical surroundings, is difficult. In the majority of cases, symptoms differ little from those of common flu. With supplementary examinations, the biological abnormalities are usually non-specific. There are no characteristic images on scans or MRI. Identification of the virus in the nasopharynx, blood or cerebrospinal fluid, in serology, PCR or RT-PCR permits confirmation of the virus. Treatment is essentially symptomatic and relies on appropriate reanimation measures. Ribavirin can be indicated in some cases such as the Rift Valley fever, but is formally contraindicated in West Nile encephalitis. The aim of terrorist groups who would use this type of weapon is more to provoke panic and disorganisation than to kill as many people as possible.
authors.affiliation: Service des maladies infectieuses et tropicales, Groupe hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, 47-83, boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rigaudeau
authors.forename: Romain
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Micol
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bricaire
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossi
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D004668:Encephalitis Viruses / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014330:Tropical Medicine
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D012254:Ribavirin