Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2026
04:23
A Murine Model of Dengue Virus-induced Acute Viral Encephalitis-like Disease
Published on: April 28, 2019
Sudan virus disease in humans.
Hilary S Whitworth1, Margaret Meller2, Marija Zaric3
1International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) Africa, Cape Town, South Africa.
The Lancet. Global Health
|June 30, 2026
Summary
Sudan virus disease (SVD) causes severe illness with a high fatality rate, transmitted through close contact. Early immune responses may improve survival, but research gaps remain for better outbreak preparedness.
Area of Science:
- Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers
- Epidemiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Sudan virus disease (SVD) is a severe febrile illness caused by Sudan virus (SUDV), a filovirus.
- Outbreaks, including the ninth in Uganda in 2025, highlight its public health significance.
- SVD presents with influenza-like symptoms, progressing to severe diarrhea, dehydration, and potential organ failure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review existing evidence on the epidemiology, natural history, and immunology of SVD.
- To identify key evidence gaps and limitations in current knowledge.
- To inform future outbreak preparedness and research strategies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of evidence from SVD outbreaks since 1976.
- Analysis of epidemiological data, clinical presentations, and immunological responses.
- Synthesis of findings to assess survival predictors and long-term immunity.
Main Results:
- The pooled case-fatality rate for SVD was 49% (until 2022), with a lower rate of 29% in the 2025 outbreak.
- Transmission primarily occurs via close contact with symptomatic individuals and their bodily fluids.
- Early T-cell responses and antibodies may be crucial for survival; suppressed immunity and inflammation predict fatal outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Survivors develop durable immunity for up to 15 years.
- Significant evidence gaps persist, necessitating prospective research planning for future outbreaks.
- Advancing vaccine and therapeutic development is crucial for effective SVD outbreak response.
Related Concept Videos
01:18Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease caused by the yellow fever virus (YFV), a member of the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted primarily by Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and South America. After transmission through a mosquito bite, the virus initially replicates in skin-resident immune cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages. These cells then migrate to the lymph nodes, where viral replication increases, eventually leading to...
01:27Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
01:17Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
01:29Subviral Agents
Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...
01:29Coronavirus
Coronaviruses, including the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), are enveloped viruses characterized by their single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome and helical nucleocapsid structure. The hallmark of these viruses is their club-shaped spike (S) glycoproteins that protrude from the viral envelope, facilitating attachment to host cells. Typically, coronaviruses infect the upper respiratory tract, often causing mild or asymptomatic disease. However, certain strains like...
00:36Viral Mutations
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material for adaptive...