Victorian scientists have discovered a new virus that has the potential to kill organ transplant recipients. The virus was discovered after three Melbourne patients died within weeks of receiving organs from the same donor.
The Department of Human Services says it is similar to a meningitis virus that killed several transplant patients in the United States last year.
Dr Mike Cattan from the Victorian Infectious Disease Laboratory says initial tests have been unable to conclude whether the donor passed the virus onto the patients through the organs.
"We'd expect that this is a virus that's been present for a long time and we've found it," he said.
"We don't think that there's a reason to expect this is a mutant from something.
"We don't know anything about how many people it might have infected or if it's killed anyone in the past before."
Victorian health authorities say the virus does not pose a risk to the rest of the community.
Victoria's acting Chief Health Officer Dr John Carnie says it is not believed to be an infectious disease.
"Organ transplant recipients are hit with a variety of drugs to suppress their immune system so that they don't reject the organ that's transplanted," he said.
"So if you're immuno-depressed, any kind of infection can have devastating consequences whether it's the common cold or influenza or anything like that can have very severe consequences." SOURCE: © 2007 Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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