Previously uncontacted tribe returns to rainforest with flu

Previously uncontacted tribe returns to rainforest with flu
(Image credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

An Amazon tribe thought to be lost has reappeared — and some of its members have contracted influenza.

Brazil's government department FUNAI, which oversees the affairs of indigenous peoples, recently announced that at least seven members of a long-isolated Amazon tribe are infected with the flu after contact with the outside world. Researchers fear those with influenza will spread the disease to other tribe members who aren't immunized and haven't built up any natural immunity due to their isolation. FUNAI announced that a government-sponsored medical team treated the infected tribe members, but their return home is alarming for the others.

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Meghan DeMaria

Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.