Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (cont.)
How are patients with viral hemorrhagic fever treated?
Patients receive supportive therapy, but generally speaking, there is no
other treatment or established cure for VHFs. Ribavirin, an anti-viral drug, has
been effective in treating some individuals with Lassa fever or HFRS. Treatment
with convalescent-phase plasma has been used with success in some patients with
Argentine hemorrhagic fever.
How can cases of viral hemorrhagic fever be prevented and controlled?
With the exception of yellow fever and Argentine hemorrhagic fever, for which
vaccines have been developed, no vaccines exist that can protect against these
diseases. Therefore, prevention efforts must concentrate on avoiding contact
with host species. If prevention methods fail and a case of VHF does occur,
efforts should focus on preventing further transmission from person to person,
if the virus can be transmitted in this way. Because many of the hosts that
carry hemorrhagic fever viruses are rodents, disease prevention efforts include
- controlling rodent populations;
- discouraging rodents from entering or living
in homes or workplaces;
- encouraging safe cleanup of rodent nests and droppings.
For hemorrhagic fever viruses spread by arthropod vectors, prevention efforts
often focus on community-wide insect and arthropod control. In addition, people
are encouraged to use insect repellant, proper clothing, bednets, window
screens, and other insect barriers to avoid being bitten.
For those hemorrhagic fever viruses that can be transmitted from one person
to another, avoiding close physical contact with infected people and their body
fluids is the most important way of controlling the spread of disease. Barrier
nursing or infection control techniques include isolating infected individuals
and wearing protective clothing. Other infection control recommendations include
proper use, disinfection, and disposal of instruments and equipment used in
treating or caring for patients with VHF, such as needles and thermometers.
In conjunction with the World Health Organization, CDC has developed
practical, hospital-based guidelines, titled
Infection Control for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers In the African Health Care Setting. The manual can help
health-care facilities recognize cases and prevent further hospital-based
disease transmission using locally available materials and few financial
resources.
Next: What needs to be done to address the threat of viral hemorrhagic fevers? »
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