Omsk haemorrhagic fever

0352320 - BC 2011 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Růžek, Daniel - Yakimenko, V. V. - Karan, L. S. - Tkachev, S. E.
Omsk haemorrhagic fever.
Lancet. Roč. 376, č. 9758 (2010), s. 2104-2113. ISSN 0140-6736. E-ISSN 1474-547X
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA524/08/1509
Grant - others:MO0 - Ministerstvo obrany (MO)(CZ) OVUVZU2008002
Program: OV
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60220518
Keywords : human-mediated disturbance * muskrats * Ondatra zibethicus * OHFV
Subject RIV: EB - Genetics ; Molecular Biology
Impact factor: 33.633, year: 2010

Omsk haemorrhagic fever is an acute viral disease prevalent in some regions of western Siberia in Russia. The only treatments available are for control of symptoms. No specific vaccine has been developed, although the vaccine against tick-borne encephalitis might provide a degree of protection against Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus. The virus is transmitted mainly by Dermacentor reticulatus ticks, but people are mainly infected after contact with infected muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus). Muskrats are very sensitive to Omsk haemorrhagic fever virus. The introduction of this species to Siberia in the 1930s probably led to viral emergence in this area, which had previously seemed free from the disease. Omsk haemorrhagic fever is, therefore, an example of a human disease that emerged owing to human-mediated disturbance of an ecological niche. We review the biological properties of the virus, and the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Omsk haemorrhagic fever.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0191853