Human Infection with Bhanja Virus

A laboratory worker became infected with Bhanja virus. The illness was mild, characterized by muscle and joint aches, moderate frontal headache, slight photophobia, and slight elevation of temperature; it lasted fewer than 48 hours. Bhanja virus was isolated from his serum, and diagnostic rises in complement-fixing and neutralizing antibody were demonstrated. This is the first reported human infection with Bhanja virus; the implications are discussed briefly.