Source: National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) — Content from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (public domain).
Key points
- Chapare hemorrhagic fever (Chapare) is a rare viral disease that is likely spread by rodents.
- Chapare is deadly; about 60% of people with the disease die.
- There is no specific treatment for Chapare.
- A limited number of Chapare outbreaks have been reported, all in Bolivia.
What it is
Chapare hemorrhagic fever (Chapare) is an illness caused by infection with the Chapare virus. This virus can spread to people through contact with the saliva, urine, and droppings of infected rodents.
Chapare virus has caused a small number of documented outbreaks, all in Bolivia. All outbreaks have been limited in scale, with no evidence of sustained community transmission.
The first outbreak consisted of one fatal case reported in 2003 in Chapare Province. In 2019, the virus reemerged in Caranavi, where nine cases were reported with four deaths. Health authorities confirmed some of these cases were from person-to-person transmission among healthcare workers. In 2025, two separate cases were detected in La Paz Department.
Because Chapare can cause severe disease and because it can potentially spread in healthcare facilities, Chapare remains a public health concern.
Healthcare providers:
Review guidance on emergency services, screening, testing, infection control and PPE for viral hemorrhagic fevers like Chapare.
Signs and symptoms
Chapare symptoms are like those of other South American hemorrhagic fevers, such as Argentine hemorrhagic fever or Bolivian hemorrhagic fever.
Due to the low number of reported Chapare cases, there is limited information about the disease.
Documented signs and symptoms of Chapare include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint and muscle pain
- Pain behind the eyes
- Stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Bleeding gums
- Rash
- Irritability
Evidence suggests that pregnant women who are infected with Chapare virus may have complications, including miscarriage or death of the mother or newborn.
How it spreads
People can become infected with the Chapare virus by:
- Being bitten or scratched by an infected rodent
- Eating foods contaminated with the saliva, urine, or droppings from infected rodents
- Being in close contact with body fluids of an infected person
- Breathing in the virus when it is stirred up into the air
It is unknown if Chapare virus can be spread from mother to child during birth. However, other similar viruses are known to infect the fetus when it is in the uterus.
Prevention
Chapare virus has not been detected outside of Bolivia. If you are in an area of Bolivia where the virus has been detected:
- Avoid areas that are infested with rodents and other small mammals.
- Avoid areas where you see signs of rodent infestation like droppings.
- Avoid contact with the body fluids of people who are sick with Chapare.
Healthcare providers should use standard contact and droplet precautions with eye protection while managing suspected or confirmed Chapare cases. They should use airborne precautions when performing procedures that could cause the virus to spray into the air.
Keep Reading Prevent rodent infestations
Testing and Diagnosis
Healthcare providers can diagnose Chapare with blood tests that detect the virus, like polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There are currently no antibody tests that can tell if someone had the virus in the past.
Clinicians should notify their state or local health department if a patient has recently been in an area with Chapare virus and has compatible symptoms.
Treatment and recovery
There is currently no specific treatment for Chapare. Supportive therapy can help people recover from and survive. This includes:
- Providing fluids and electrolytes (body salts)
- Using medication to support blood pressure, reduce vomiting and diarrhea, and manage fever and pain
- Treating other infections, if they occur
Even months after symptoms stop, people who recover from Chapare may continue to shed the virus in their blood, saliva, urine, or semen. Healthcare providers should monitor these fluids for Chapare virus. Recovering patients could possibly infect others, particularly sexual partners or other household members.