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Chapter 40 - Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers: Lassa Fever, Rift Valley Fever, Ebola/Marburg Fever and Crimean–Congo Fever

from Section 6 - Viral Infections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 June 2025

By
Emma C. Thomson ,
Catherine Houlihan ,
Naomi F. Walker  and
Stella Atim
Edited by
David Mabey ,
Martin W. Weber ,
Moffat Nyirenda ,
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu ,
Jackson Orem ,
Laura Benjamin ,
Michael Marks  and
Nicholas A. Feasey
David Mabey
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Martin W. Weber
Affiliation:
World Health Organization
Moffat Nyirenda
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Dorothy Yeboah-Manu
Affiliation:
Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana
Jackson Orem
Affiliation:
Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala
Laura Benjamin
Affiliation:
University College London
Michael Marks
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Nicholas A. Feasey
Affiliation:
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
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Summary

Viral haemorrhagic fever (VHF) is an imprecisely defined clinical syndrome, characterized by fever, bleeding tendency and multi-organ failure. It can be caused by several diverse viruses, including members of the Filoviridae, Arenaviridae, Flaviviridae, Bunyaviridae, Nairoviridae and possibly also the Rhabdoviridae families. The commonest pathogens detected in outbreaks of VHF include Lassa, Rift Valley fever virus, Ebola/Marburg viruses, Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus (CCHF) and yellow fever virus. Many of these viruses are classified as biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) pathogens, requiring high biocontainment measures both in clinical care of affected patients and in the laboratory setting. The viruses are maintained endemically in nature, with animals or insects serving as natural reservoirs. Table 40.1 gives an overview of the ecology and epidemiology of these viruses. All of these viruses have the potential to cause epidemics in humans.

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Principles of Medicine in Africa , pp. 441 - 454
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

References

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Key Resources

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