Novel neurotropic arbovirus identified in France: the Umbre virus

The Institut Pasteur's Pathogen Discovery Laboratory and the neuropathology laboratory at Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital set out to identify pathogens in fatal cases of encephalitis of unknown etiology. In two immunosuppressed patients, the Umbre virus (genus Orthobunyavirus) was identified. This virus infects neurons in the cerebral cortex, the spinal cord and the liver. The discovery of a novel arbovirus responsible for encephalitis, and its existence in France, holds particular interest for public health.

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