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Review
. 2012 Jun;6(6):e1546.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001546. Epub 2012 Jun 26.

Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers: neglected tropical diseases?

Adam MacNeil  1 , Pierre E Rollin
Affiliations
Review

Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers: neglected tropical diseases?

Adam MacNeil et al. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012 Jun.

Abstract

Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) and Marburg hemorrhagic fever (MHF) are rare viral diseases, endemic to central Africa. The overall burden of EHF and MHF is small in comparison to the more common protozoan, helminth, and bacterial diseases typically referred to as neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). However, EHF and MHF outbreaks typically occur in resource-limited settings, and many aspects of these outbreaks are a direct consequence of impoverished conditions. We will discuss aspects of EHF and MHF disease, in comparison to the "classic" NTDs, and examine potential ways forward in the prevention and control of EHF and MHF in sub-Saharan Africa, as well as examine the potential for application of novel vaccines or antiviral drugs for prevention or control of EHF and MHF among populations at highest risk for disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Location of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (red circles) and Marburg hemorrhagic fever (green squares) outbreaks.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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