Plasmodium Encephalitic Paludism



Plasmodium encephalitic paludism (P. paludism), also known as septic malaria, was discovered in Shwebo, Burma (Union of Myanmar) in 2011 by an American team of bioresearchers. It is caused by protozoan parasites and transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Septic malaria leads to encephalitis, and the infected present with severe hemorrhagic symptoms. It has an eventual mortality rate of approximately 99%.

During the inital outbreak in Shwebo, it was discovered that the parasites excrete an enzyme in their hosts as a biproduct of their reproductive cycle. This enzyme, catalogued as retroviral ribonuclease HII (mRNA mutare EC 3.1.26.14), ultimately incites minimal regeneration of tissue in the central nervous, skeletomuscular, and gastroenterological systems. At the time, Myanmar officials claimed this enzyme induced temporary reactivation of parts of the brain, causing the deceased to reanimate for minutes at a time. WHO formally denied these claims.

Days after its discovery, samples of the virus were stolen from Vitma Labs in Hyderabad, India, where they were being housed in cryo-containment while awaiting shipment to WHO's Infectious Disease Biobank in London, England. It is believed that the virus was eventually taken to a joint research facility in Antarctica, where Retroviridae alphavirus necrotosis, the Omega Virus, was created.

It is almost certain that Plasmodium encephalitic paludism still exists in nature. No vaccine has yet been developed.