Hemorrhagic fever is a kind of viral infection caused by group of viruses. Viral hemorrhagic fever can affect the function of many vital organs and the worst thing is they can damage the blood vessels affecting the transportation of oxygenated blood. Symptoms of hemorrhagic fever may range from mild to severe and in rare cases they can cause death. This disease can affect the clotting ability of blood causing bleeding. Often these viruses live in animals and get transmitted to humans when they consume or handle infected animals. It can also spread from infected individuals to others through saliva, urine and other fluids. Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Dengue viruses cause hemorrhagic fever. People living in tropical regions are at increased risk of this fever. There is no cure for this disease.
Causes :
Hemorrhagic fever caused by group of viruses like flavivirus, bunyavirus, filovirus and arenavirus. These viruses would choose a suitable host like animal or insect for survival. Generally the virus is restricted to specific areas but it can spread to people who travel frequently to affected areas.
Mode Of Transmission :
People working in slaughter houses and those handling infected animals are likely to get infected. An individual who touches the feces of infected animal or comes in contact with the saliva would get infected. Insects like mosquitoes, ticks, flies and animals like rodents and bats are carriers of viruses. In some cases infected person can also pass on the infection to others through saliva and exchange of body fluids. An outbreak of hemorrhagic fever occurs irregularly and cannot be predicted.
Who Are At Risk ?
- Health care professionals who are handling sick patients and infected people each day are at increased risk of hemorrhagic fever.
- People whose work involves slaughtering of animals are at high risk.
- People who use common needles and unsterilized needles are likely to get infected.
- And lastly people who have unprotected sex with strange person are at increased risk of hemorrhagic fever.
- Often the risk of getting infected with hemorrhagic fever is restricted for people living in specific geographic areas where viruses are distributed. However one can get infected by visiting such tropical regions frequently.
Complications :