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What is viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF)?
Viral hemorrhagic fever is a class of diseases caused by viruses that live in rodents, arthropods (such as mosquitoes and ticks) and humans. They get their name because in severe cases, they cause bleeding under the skin. There are four distinct viruses that cause hemorrhagic fevers: arenaviruses, filoviruses, bunyaviruses and flaviviruses. Almost all cases of VHFs occur in Africa, South America and Asia. VHF in the United States is rare.
How does a person become infected with VHF?
Most people get viral hemorrhagic fever through exposure to an infected rodent or arthropod. This contact could be via rodent feces or urine; by handling an infected animal; or by a mosquito or tick bite. Some viral hemorrhagic fevers are spread from person-to-person through close contact with body fluids, such as blood or urine.
What are the symptoms of VHF?
Specific symptoms vary by type of viral hemorrhagic fever, but initial symptoms often include: fever, fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, loss of strength and exhaustion. Patients with severe cases of VHF often bleed under the skin, in internal organs or from body openings. Patients may also have shock, problems with the nervous system, coma and seizures.
How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
It varies. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure, depending on the type of VHF.
What is the treatment for VHF?
Patients receive supportive care for relief of symptoms. Certain antiviral medications have been effective in treating some patients with certain types of VHF.
How can VHF be prevented?
No vaccines exist for VHFs, except for yellow fever. Yellow fever vaccine is recommended only for individuals traveling to areas such as tropical South America and sub-Saharan Africa. The best way to prevent VHFs is to avoid contact with infected rodents and arthropods. Person-to-person transmission can be decreased with proper hand washing and avoiding contact with those that have VHF.
Could VHF be used for bioterrorism?
Yes. Many hemorrhagic fever viruses are considered possible bioterrorism agents because they are highly infectious, can be aerosolized (made airborne) and would cause serious illness in the population. Some countries are known to have used VHF viruses in their biological warfare programs.
Additional information may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.
Updated 6/24/04
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