Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers

Excerpt

Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) represent a group of severe systemic febrile illnesses caused by four families of viruses - Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Filoviridae, and Flaviviridae. These enveloped viruses are characterized by a myriad of symptoms that range from coagulopathies, hemodynamic instability, altered mental status, and, if severe enough, death. The degree of clinical illness can vary widely with some viruses causing mild illness, while others can be life-threatening.

Most of the viruses implicated in these diseases require vectors for transmission to humans, with the majority being arthropod-borne or rodent-borne infections. Given their zoonotic nature, these diseases are generally confined to the endemic areas where their hosts live. However, given increased human migration and further globalization, these diseases are no longer limited to their geographic origins. This article will provide a general overview of viral hemorrhagic fevers and focus on those diseases which have the highest overall mortality rates.