Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers

• What are Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs)?
• Should we be concerned about outbreaks of VHFs in Canada?
• How are VHFs spread?
• What are the signs and symptoms for VHFs?
• How are VHFs treated?

---

What are Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers?

Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are a group of diseases caused by viruses. A VHF is a highly infectious, and often fatal, disease caused by one of the several different viruses. Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Crimean-Congo are all different types of viruses that can cause viral haemorrhagic fevers in animals and humans.

Should we be concerned about outbreaks of VHFs in Canada?

No. Infections and outbreaks occur sporadically in many developing areas of the world, including Central, East and Western Africa, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central, South and Far East Asia and in some areas of the Americas.

How are VHFs spread?

All viruses need hosts, and sometimes these hosts are very specific for the virus. The VHF viruses live in the areas where their host animals live. Some known hosts are rats, mice and other rodents. For some of the VHF viruses, like Ebola, the host is not known. A person can become infected with the VHF virus from direct exposures to an infected animal or its body fluids, or by the bite of a tick or insect.

For some VHF viruses, it is possible to spread the disease directly from person to person through direct, close personal contact with body fluids of an infected person. Usually, a person must be directly exposed to the body fluids of an infected person when he or she has signs and symptoms of the disease to be at risk.

For other VHF viruses, the means of transmission are not known but may include breathing it in or eating it.

What are the signs and symptoms for VHFs?

Symptoms include the sudden onset of fever, malaise, headache, sore throat, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and haemorrhaging. These are followed by collapse, shock associated with multi-organ failure and bleeding.

How are VHFs treated?

For most VHFs there is no specific cure or vaccine. Treatment options include hospitalization, aggressive supportive care in an intensive care unit, strict isolation to prevent spread of infection, maintenance of fluid levels and electrolytes. For some patients, antiviral medication has been used.

Additional information on Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers can be found at the following sites:

• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• Canadian Contingency Plan for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers and Other Related Diseases
• Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers: Fact Sheets