Viewpoint: filovirus haemorrhagic fever outbreaks: much ado about nothing?

نویسندگان

M Borchert

M Boelaert

H Sleurs

J J Muyembe-Tamfum

P Pirard

R Colebunders

P Van der Stuyft

G van der Groen

چکیده

The recent outbreak of Marburg haemorrhagic fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo has put the filovirus threat back on the international health agenda. This paper gives an overview of Marburg and Ebola outbreaks so far observed and puts them in a public health perspective. Damage on the local level has been devastating at times, but was marginal on the international level despite the considerable media attention these outbreaks received. The potential hazard of outbreaks, however, after export of filovirus from its natural environment into metropolitan areas, is argued to be considerable. Some avenues for future research and intervention are explored. Beyond the obvious need to find the reservoir and study the natural history, public health strategies for a more timely and efficient response are urgently needed.

برای دانلود متن کامل این مقاله و بیش از 32 میلیون مقاله دیگر ابتدا ثبت نام کنید

ثبت نام

اگر عضو سایت هستید لطفا وارد حساب کاربری خود شوید

منابع مشابه

Haemorrhagic fever virus activity in equatorial Africa: distribution and prevalence of filovirus reactive antibody in the Central African Republic.

Seroepidemiological surveys were conducted to determine the frequency and distribution of haemorrhagic fever virus (HFV) activity in the Central African Republic. Human serum specimens (4295) were collected from 5 ecologically distinct zones. Serological evidence of HFV activity was found in all the zones. The filovirus antibody prevalence (24.4%, 1051/4295) was greater than the combined preval...

متن کامل

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

More than 400 years after its first appearance in London, Much Ado about Nothing remains a popular stage play with both actors and audiences. Perhaps its success stems from Shakespeare’s compelling presentation of a number of themes with universal appeal, especially those related to courtship and marriage. In the plot of Much Ado young romantic love and faith at first fail, but ultimately true ...

متن کامل

Ebola virus entry requires the host-programmed recognition of an intracellular receptor.

Ebola and Marburg filoviruses cause deadly outbreaks of haemorrhagic fever. Despite considerable efforts, no essential cellular receptors for filovirus entry have been identified. We showed previously that Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1), a lysosomal cholesterol transporter, is required for filovirus entry. Here, we demonstrate that NPC1 is a critical filovirus receptor. Human NPC1 fulfills a cardinal p...

متن کامل