Alkhurma haemorrhagic fever virus in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

The Ministry of Health of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA] recently reported four laboratory confirmed cases of Alkhurma Haemorrhagic Fever Virus [AHFV], detected from Jeddah. The epidemiological investigation revealed that all these four cases were exposed to infected animal [sheep] either during slaughtering or during processing of sheep meat during the last Hajj [2009]. All the cases were detected during the post hajj period [November/early December 2009] in Jeddah and were sporadic in nature The cases were successfully treated in hospitals and recovered fully. The outbreak is currently contained. The potential for further spread of the outbreak seems limited now given the fact that the reported cases were not epidemiologically linked and no more case of AHFV has been reported from the KSA since December 2009