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Filoviral haemorrhagic fevers
A S Khan1, A Sanchez, A K Pflieger
1Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Abstract:
Sensationalised accounts of wards of dying patients have fueled intense public fascination with filoviruses and highlighted the global threat of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Filoviruses are the prototypical emerging pathogens: they cause a haemorrhagic disease of high case-fatality associated with explosive outbreaks due to person-to-person transmission, have no known treatment, occur unpredictably, and have an unknown reservoir. In truth, since their initial discovery in 1967, only a handful of filoviral outbreaks have occurred, mostly in remote locations. However, the documented occurrence of secondary cases in locations far from endemic areas validates the concern that filoviruses have the potential to cause unprecedented outbreaks in the future.
Insights
Filoviruses cause severe hemorrhagic disease with high fatality. While outbreaks are rare, their potential for widespread transmission necessitates vigilance and further research into these emerging pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Filoviruses are highly contagious and deadly emerging pathogens.
- Public fascination with filoviruses is driven by sensationalized accounts of patient deaths.
- Filoviruses present a significant global health threat due to their unpredictable nature and lack of treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a factual overview of filoviruses, contrasting public perception with scientific reality.
- To highlight the potential for filoviruses to cause widespread outbreaks.
- To underscore the importance of understanding emerging infectious diseases.
Main Methods:
- Review of historical filovirus outbreaks and scientific literature.
- Analysis of transmission dynamics and case fatality rates.
- Assessment of the global threat posed by filoviruses.
Main Results:
- Filovirus outbreaks are infrequent and typically occur in isolated regions.
- Despite rarity, documented secondary cases outside endemic areas confirm transmission potential.
- No specific treatments are currently available for filoviral infections.
Conclusions:
- Filoviruses represent a significant, albeit rare, threat due to their high fatality and transmission potential.
- Continued surveillance and research are crucial for managing emerging infectious diseases like filoviruses.
- Public understanding of filovirus risks should be based on scientific evidence rather than sensationalism.