May 16, 2018 | Viral hemorrhagic fevers are infectious diseases that interfere with the blood’s ability to clot. These diseases can also damage the walls of tiny blood vessels, making them leaky. The internal bleeding that results can range from minor to life-threatening. Viral hemorrhagic fevers are caused by four families of viruses, Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, Filoviridae  and Flaviviridae. These diseases most commonly occur in tropical areas of the world. When viral hemorrhagic fevers occur in the U.S., they’re usually found in people who’ve recently traveled internationally. Viral hemorrhagic fevers are spread by contact with infected animals, people or insects. No current treatment can cure viral hemorrhagic fevers, and immunizations exist for only a few types. Until additional vaccines are developed, the best approach is prevention. Because there are no effective treatments for some of these infections, there is concern about their use in bioterrorism.

May 16, 2018 | Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America. The virus is spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Yellow fever is rare in the United States, occurring mostly in those who travel abroad. Its symptoms range from a fever with aches and pains to severe liver disease with bleeding and yellowing skin, also known as jaundice. The yellow fever vaccine is a live, weakened form of the virus given as a single shot. The most effective method of preventing the spread of the virus, the vaccine has been around for more than 80 years and is recommended for anyone over the age of nine months who is traveling to areas at risk for yellow fever. Travelers to areas where yellow fever exists should take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes such as wearing an EPA-registered insect repellent on exposed skin and long sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors, weather permitting.

May 16, 2018 | Lassa fever was discovered in 1969 when two missionary nurses died in Nigeria. The viral hemorrhagic fever is named after the town in Nigeria where the first cases occurred. Found mainly in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea and Nigeria, the disease is spread by rats and causes an estimated 5,000 deaths each year in this west African region. There have been only six documented cases of Lassa fever in the U.S., all of them associated with travelers to countries known to have the virus. The disease can’t be spread by casual contact but rather by coming into contact with urine or the droppings of an infected rat or by inhaling tiny particles in the air contaminated with such urine or droppings. If a health care worker suspects a patient may have Lassa fever, a laboratory test can diagnose the disease. Ribavirin, an anti-viral drug, has been used to successfully treat patients with the disease. It is most effective when given soon after a patient becomes sick.

May 16, 2018 | The threat of the Ebola hemorrhagic fever emerged again when two cases of the rare and deadly disease were recently confirmed in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The symptoms of the Ebola usually appear between two to 21 days after exposure to the virus. The symptoms may include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness followed by diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Other symptoms, including red eyes, hiccups and internal and external bleeding, may also occur. A patient’s recovery from Ebola depends on their immune response. Because the early symptoms are similar to those caused by other common diseases, it can be hard to diagnose Ebola quickly. If a person has Ebola symptoms and has been in an area where the disease is known to exist, he or she needs to be immediately isolated from other people and examined by trained health professionals wearing the proper protective gear.

May 16, 2018 | Diagnosing specific viral hemorrhagic fevers in the first few days of illness can be difficult because the initial signs and symptoms, high fever, muscle aches and extreme fatigue, are common to many other diseases. To help with the diagnosis, your doctor is likely to ask about your medical and travel history and any exposure to rodents or mosquitoes. Be sure to describe international trips in detail, including the countries you visited and the dates as well as any contact you may have had with possible sources of infection. Laboratory tests, usually using a sample of your blood, are needed to confirm a diagnosis. Because viral hemorrhagic fevers are particularly virulent and contagious, these tests are usually performed in specially designated laboratories using strict precautions. The best time to see a doctor is before you travel to a developing country to ensure you’ve received any available vaccinations and pre-travel advice for staying healthy.