Omsk hemorrhagic fever

Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by a Flavivirus. It is named for an outbreak in Omsk. Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever is caused by the Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever Virus (OHFV), a member of the Flavivirus family. The virus was discovered between 1945 and 1947 in Omsk, Russia. The infection could be found in western Siberia, in places including Omsk, Novosibirsk, Kurgan, and Tyumen. The virus survives in water as is transferred to humans via contaminated water.

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Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms of the virus. In the first 1-8 days the first phase begins. The symptoms in this phase are:

• chills
• headache
• pain in the lower and upper extremities and severe prostration
• a rash on the soft palate
• swollen glands in the neck
• appearance of blood in the eyes (conjunctiva suffusion)
• dehydration
• hypotension
• gastrointestinal symptoms (symptoms relating the stomach intestines)
• possibly low blood pressure
• patients may also experience affects on the central nervous system

In 1-2 weeks, some patients may recover, although others might not. They might experience a focal hemorrhage in mucosa of gingival (relating the gum in your moth), uterus, and lungs, a papulovesicular rash (a rash in papules and vesicleson), the soft palate, cervical lymph adenopathy (it occurs in the neck which that enlarges the lymph gladeular tissue), and occasional neurological involvement. If the patient still has OHF after 3 weeks, then a second wave of symptoms will occur. It also includes signs of encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). If they recover from OHF they may experience hearing loss, hair loss, and behavioral or psychological difficulties associated with neurological conditions. If the sickness doesn’t fade away, the patient will die.

Diagnosis

Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever could be diagnosed by getting virus isolation from blood, or by serologic testing using immunosorbent serological assay. OHF rating of fatality is 0.5 percent through 3 percent. There is no specific treatment for OHF so far but one way to help get rid of OHF is by supportive therapy. Supportive therapy helps maintain hydration and helps to provide precautions for patients with bleeding disorders.

Prevention

The only way to prevent Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever is to stay away from any type of tick species in outdoor areas like hunting, camping, working in the forest or farming. Another way to prevent it is to stay away from muskrat hunting in Siberia which is the highest risk in getting OHF. If you go outdoors use insect repellents and were protective clothing.

Spread

The main host of OHFV came from rodents like the non–native muskrat. OHFV was first in ticks which gave it rodents by biting them. Humans get the illness by getting bitten by a tick. The disease also could be transmitted by being in contact with a muskrat. They got infected and ill which lead them to death because of the virus. Humans later were infected by getting in contact with blood, feces or the urine of a dead or sick muskrat (or any type of rat). The virus could also spread through milk from goat or sheep since the virus can live through water. The infection is very contagious. If you follow all the procedures you have a smaller chance of getting the disease.