Orf in humans: dramatic but benign

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Human Infectious Diseases
• Zoonotic Infections

Background:

• Orf is a common parapoxvirus infection in sheep and goats, causing characteristic lesions.
• Transmission to humans typically occurs through direct contact, often in rural environments.
• The infection is generally benign and self-limiting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of human orf infection in an urban setting.
• To highlight the potential for zoonotic disease transmission in non-traditional environments.
• To emphasize the need for increased physician awareness of orf in diverse populations.

Main Methods:

• Case presentation of an inner-city resident with orf.
• Review of clinical presentation and transmission route.
• Discussion of diagnostic and management considerations.

Main Results:

• An immigrant African inner-city housewife developed orf lesions after preparing a sheep's head.
• Lesions resolved spontaneously within one month without specific treatment.
• The case occurred in an urban environment, deviating from typical rural associations.

Conclusions:

• Human orf infections, though rare, can occur in urban populations.
• Physicians should consider orf in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions, even in non-rural patients.
• This case underscores the increasing frequency of encountering previously rare or exclusively rural infections in urban medical practice.