The fight against the Borna virus: hope for Tom Tümmers!

The fight against the Borna virus: hope for Tom Tümmers!

The Borna virus, also known as BoDV-1, has hit the headlines again after 18-year-old Tom Tümmers from Baesweiler became one of the most notable survivors of this extremely rare and dangerous viral infection. This disease, known as an epizootic since the 19th century, can be transmitted to humans by the pathogen, which is mainly found in the tree shrew. Tom was infected in 2021, which led to a dramatic decline in his health as he had to fight for his life for months. During this period he was placed in a coma and suffered several serious setbacks, including cardiac arrest. Despite the life-threatening situation and the overall extremely low chances of survival, Tom survived the illness the Aachener Zeitung reported.

The dangers of the Borna virus

The Borna virus is extremely dangerous for humans and causes death in over 97 percent of cases if infected. Every year in Germany only five to ten people suffer from this disease, which is characterized by hallucinations, seizures and ultimately complications such as brain inflammation. Tom Tümmers underwent a variety of therapies for his recovery and now lives in an intensive care group for ventilation and tracheostomy patients, where he is making steady progress. Loud BR.de Contact with the vectors of the virus, the tree shrews, is crucial. Epidemiologist Merle Böhmer warned that caution should be exercised when working near the habitats of these mice.

Although the exact transmission routes of the virus in humans are still unclear, Tom could have been infected while on vacation in the Bavarian region in the summer of 2021. The fate of Tom Tümmers is not only a story of survival, but also an example of the fight against a largely unexplored and dangerous disease. Doctors are impressed by Tom's resilience and the progress he has made so far as he strives to one day regain a normal life.