Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever Basics

Key points

  • Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever (AHF) is a serious, and sometimes deadly disease.
  • AHF is caused by infection with the AHF virus spread by ticks in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
  • There is no known spread of AHF between people.
  • There is no treatment for AHF.
  • To protect yourself, avoid tick bites and touching infected animals in areas where AHF occurs.
Someone protecting themselves with insect repellent

Overview

Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever (AHF) is caused by a virus usually spread by ticks. Infections are rare but can be fatal. Since AHF was discovered in 1995, several hundred cases have been reported. AHF cases seem to peak in spring and summer. More research is needed.

AHF outbreak distribution map
AHF has been found in Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Signs and symptoms

Early symptoms of AHF resemble the flu. These symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • Loss of appetite
  • General malaise
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting

Sometimes, more severe symptoms can develop:

  • Brain swelling
  • Confusion
  • Neck stiffness
  • Coma
  • Bleeding
  • Multi-organ failure
  • Low platelet count
  • Low white blood cell count
  • Elevated liver enzymes

How long it takes for signs to show

Symptoms can start 2-4 days after being exposed to the virus.

Risk factors

People may be at risk of AHF if they experience any of the following in areas where the virus is found:

  • Tick bites
  • Contact with livestock and domestic animals, like camels, in tick-infested areas
  • Crushing infected ticks with bare or unprotected fingers

How it spreads

Transmission of AHF is not well understood and needs further study.

AHF is spread to people by ticks, the Ornithodoros savignyi and Hyalomma dromedari species, that feed on livestock and domestic animals. People can become infected through a tick bite or when crushing infected ticks.

No spread of AHF between people has been documented.

Prevention

  • Avoid tick bites and livestock in areas where AHF is found.
  • Use tick repellents on skin and clothes.
  • Check skin for ticks and remove them promptly.
  • Use tick collars for pets and tick-killing pesticides for livestock.

Diagnosis

Healthcare professionals can diagnose AHF early with PCR testing or virus isolation. They can also conduct serologic testing using ELISA later in the course of the illness.

Treatment and recovery

  • There is no specific treatment for AHF.
  • Supportive care is given to manage symptoms.
  • 1-20% of patients hospitalized for AHF die.

Similar diseases

AHF, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), and Rift Valley fever (RVF) have similar signs and symptoms and occur in the same areas.

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)
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