| Popis: |
To date only five cases of Lujo hemorrhagic fever (LHF) have been recognized and laboratory confirmed following a highly fatal nosocomial outbreak in South Africa. The index case of this outbreak was airlifted from Zambia to South Africa in 2008 for medical treatment and subsequently served as a source of infection to four healthcare workers. The distribution or prevalence of Lujo virus (LUJV) in human and rodent populations in sub-Saharan Africa is unknown. Similarly, ecology, epidemiology, including host range, natural transmission cycle, distribution, and the mode of transmission from a reservoir host to humans remain a mystery. The history of the LHF outbreak is a serious warning that highly pathogenic arenaviruses could be more widely prevalent in Africa. It also evidences that international movement of patients might contribute to unintentional rapid spread of dangerous pathogens. |
