Ebola virus: causing a rare but deadly disease in Africa: haemorrhagic fever viruses

ABSTRACT

Haemorrhagic fever is a very dramatic disease; often with high mortality. The risk of transmission in hospitals is one of many reasons to ensure high levels of hygiene. Needles and syringes must be either disposable or properly sterilised. Even in situations with extremely limited resources injections should not be given if appropriate hygiene standards cannot be ensured. It would also be desirable if the health care system in countries endemic for haemorrhagic fever viruses have the capability to upgrade the hygiene level if an outbreak should occur. It should be remembered; however; that when compared to many other infectious diseases haemorrhagic fevers are not a major health problem in terms of overall morbidity and mortality in Africa