Viral haemorrhagic fevers

Viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are a group of rare but serious illnesses caused by viruses.

Examples of VHF include:

• Ebola disease
• Marburg virus disease
• Lassa fever
• Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever
• Lujo haemorrhagic fever.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of VHFs vary depending on the virus, and can include:

• fever
• muscle aches and pains
• weakness or tiredness
• headache
• sore throat
• abdominal pain
• nausea (feeling sick), vomiting and diarrhoea
• rash.

Some people get better after initial symptoms. For others, the disease may get worse, cause bleeding and damage to the organs of the body. This can lead to shock and death.

Transmission

VHFs can spread to humans in different ways.

Animal-to-human

VHFs can spread from animals to humans through contact with infected animals (alive or dead), insects, or the body fluids of animals that have the virus.

• Lassa fever and Lujo fever can spread through contact with rats, their urine, droppings, or nesting materials.
• Marburg virus disease can be passed on by bats that live in caves.
• Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever can spread through:
  • tick bites, or from squashing a tick on the skin
  • contact with blood or body fluids from infected animals
  • eating infected animal meat or drinking infected animal milk.

Person-to-person

VHFs can spread from one person to another through contact with body fluids or surfaces contaminated with the body fluids of someone who has the virus. Body fluids include blood, urine (wee), saliva (spit), faeces (poo), vomit, sweat, tears, semen or breast milk.  The virus can enter the body through:

• cuts or breaks in the skin
• the eyes, nose, or mouth
• swallowing (ingestion)
• from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or birth
• sexual contact, sometimes even months after a person has recovered.

Anyone who has contact with body fluids while caring for a sick person with VHF, or during burial or funeral preparations for someone who has died because of VHF, are at very high risk of infection. Taking precautions, such as wearing protective clothing and practicing good hygiene can help reduce the risk of infection.

Treatment

People who are sick with a VHF will need to go to hospital for treatment. Early medical care can be life-saving.

It is important that any person who may have had contact with people or animals that have VHF get health advice immediately, especially if they become unwell or develop any signs or symptoms of VHF.

Prevention

Before travelling:

• check  Smartraveller or Disease Outbreak News for information on VHF-affected countries and disease outbreaks
• seek health advice if going to affected areas.

If you are planning to work or volunteer in healthcare or outbreak response settings in a VHF-affected area, seek advice from the organisation you are working with before departure and ensure you are familiar with recommended infection prevention and control measures and border health procedures.

To reduce the risk of infection:

• avoid contact with blood or body fluids of sick people or animals
• wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• do not eat raw or undercooked meat or take part in the slaughter or butchering of animals
• avoid traditional burial ceremonies in affected areas
• avoid tick-bites by not entering bushland or walking through long grass. If entering areas where tick bites are possible, use insect repellent, wear light-coloured clothing, long-sleeved shirts, and long pants tucked into socks.
• avoid contact with rodents (rats and mice) or areas with signs that rodents are nearby (e.g. droppings and urine)
• avoid visiting caves or mines without proper protective equipment.

What to do if you may have been exposed

Seek urgent medical advice if you:

• have travelled in a VHF-affected country and become unwell
• have had contact with a person or animal that may have been infected with a VHF.

Call before going to a GP or hospital and tell them:

• your symptoms
• where you have travelled
• details of any possible exposure to VHF

Help and assistance

If you are in an emergency situation, call 000.

Get qualified health advice 24/7 for the cost of a local call, by calling 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)

For further information, please contact your local doctor, community health centre or nearest public health unit.