ANTIVIRAL TREATMENT OF ARGENTINE HEMORRHAGIC-FEVER

Argentine hemorrhagic fever is a systemic viral disease caused by Juni n virus, with a mortality of 15-30% in untreated individuals. Current specific therapy is highly effective in reducing mortality, and consis ts of the early administration of immune plasma in defined doses of sp ecific neutralizing antibodies per kg of body weight. However, several reasons suggest the need to investigate alternative therapies. Ribavi rin, a broad spectrum antiviral agent, is effective in the treatment o f other viral hemorrhagic fevers, and the studies done with Junin viru s infections to date indicate that this drug may also have a beneficia l effect in Argentine hemorrhagic fever