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VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVERS
JAMA published a consensus article covering
viral hemorrhagic fevers as a biological weapon. The pdf file is available here:
- Hemorrhagic Fever refers to an
illness associated with fever and a bleeding disorder
caused by a virus belonging to the Filoviridae,
Arenaviridae, Bunyaviridae, or Flavaviridae families.
The HFV’s are transmitted by contact with
infected animals or arthropods
- Dengue is excluded as a BT weapon
because it is not transmitted by small particle aerosol.
- Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and
other Hemorrhagic Fevers with Renal Syndrome viruses are
excluded because they do not readily replicate in cell
cultures making them too difficult to convert to
weapons.
- The US weaponized yellow fever and
rift valley fever prior to dismantling the program.
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With the exception of Rift Valley Fever
and the flavaviruses (yellow fever) humans can transmit
the disease to others.
- Filovirdiae (Ebola and Marburg):
Incubation: Ebola 2-21, Marburg 2-14.
Most cases from direct contact with blood,
secretions, or tissues.
Virus is found in skin and sweat glands.
Tranmissibility of Ebola increases with
duration of disease so contact with a patient late
in the disease adds risk.
Transmission of Ebola and Marburg rarely
occurs before onset of signs and symptoms.
- Arenaviridiae (Lassa):
Incubation 5-16. Transmission is mostly
direct contact with infectious blood or body fluids.
Airborne transmission is possible but the
mechanism is unknown.
Lassa virus can be detected in semen 3 months
after infection.
Inhalation of aerosols from rodent urine and
feces, ingestion of contaminated food or direct
contact of rodent excreta through abraded skin are
the likely ways humans are infected.
- Bunyaviridae (Rift Valley Fever):
Incubation 2-6.
Rift Valley Fever is acquired from a mosquito
bite, direct contact with an infected animal or
aerosols from infected animal carcasses.
No reports of human-to-human transmission.
Large numbers of animals will be infected
after a terrorist release.
- Flaviviridiae (Yellow Fever):
Incubation 3-6.
Humans get yellow fever from mosquitoes and
Omsk Fever/Kyasanur Fever are from a tick bite.
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