Abstract
Viral haemorrhagic fevers are caused by enveloped RNA viruses that belong to the families Filoviridae (Ebola, Marburg), Arenaviridae (Lassa, Lujo, Junin, Machupo, Guanarito), Bunyaviridae (hantaviruses, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and Rift Valley fever virus) and Flaviviridae (yellow fever, Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus). These infections manifest as acute systemic febrile illnesses with severe clinical course followed by development of shock syndrome and subsequent multiorgan dysfunction syndrome.
Viral haemorrhagic fevers are widespread and present in all continents with the exception of Antarctica and represent typical zoonotic infections with natural foci. The potential for direct human-to-human transmission is significant in Lassa, Ebola, Marburg and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fevers.
Although the risk of transmission to tourists is relatively low, these infections are feared for their severe clinical course and unavailable specific treatment. Current Ebola outbreak in western Africa shows that these infections represent a significant public health problem.
The potential risk represents the use of these pathogens as weapons of mass destruction. Provision of medical care for patients with viral haemorrhagic fever should be restricted to specialized centres.