PROBABLE HUMAN INFECTION WITH A NEWLY DESCRIBED VIRUS IN THE FAMILY PARAMYXOVIRIDAE

After an apparently new virus in the family Paramyxoviridae was isolat ed from pigs in August 1997, an investigation was carried out to asses s its risk for humans. More than 250 persons with potential exposure t o infected pigs were tested serologically. Two piggery workers with in tense occupational exposure had high convalescent-phase antibody titer s to this new virus. in early June 1997, both workers had an influenza like illness with rash; serologic testing showed no alternative cause. Strong evidence indicates that the two men became ill from this new v irus, but the mode of transmission from pigs to humans remains unknown .