A tiny insect from the Amazon is raising big questions for scientists. Researchers in Brazil have discovered a new strain of Bartonella bacteria living in local sand flies. This genus is infamous for causing Oroya fever, or “Peruvian wart,” a deadly disease still present in parts of the Andes. Early DNA analysis shows the Brazilian strain shares genetic traits with its dangerous relative in Peru.
While there’s no proof yet that it makes people sick, experts warn it deserves close watch. If it can infect humans, the discovery could reshape how we think about neglected diseases, global health, and the unseen risks hidden in remote ecosystems.
The discovery is a reminder that the next global health threat might not emerge in crowded cities, but in the most overlooked corners of the world. Click through the following gallery to see what scientists have found.