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Lujo viral hemorrhagic fever: considering diagnostic capacity and preparedness in the wake of recent Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks
Author(s) -
Simulundu Edgar,
Mweene Aaron S.,
Changula Katendi,
Monze Mwaka,
Chizema Elizabeth,
Mwaba Peter,
Takada Ayato,
Ippolito Guiseppe,
Kasolo Francis,
Zumla Alimuddin,
Bates Matthew
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
reviews in medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.06
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1654
pISSN - 1052-9276
DOI - 10.1002/rmv.1903
Subject(s) - outbreak , viral hemorrhagic fever , virology , ebola virus , arenavirus , case fatality rate , zika virus , preparedness , transmission (telecommunications) , medicine , disease , virus , immunology , environmental health , lymphocytic choriomeningitis , population , pathology , electrical engineering , antigen , political science , law , cd8 , engineering
Summary Lujo virus is a novel Old World arenavirus identified in Southern Africa in 2008 as the cause of a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) characterized by nosocomial transmission with a high case fatality rate of 80% (4/5 cases). Whereas this outbreak was limited, the unprecedented Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa, and recent Zika virus disease epidemic in the Americas, has brought into acute focus the need for preparedness to respond to rare but potentially highly pathogenic outbreaks of zoonotic or arthropod‐borne viral infections. A key determinant for effective control of a VHF outbreak is the time between primary infection and diagnosis of the index case. Here, we review the Lujo VHF outbreak of 2008 and discuss how preparatory measures with respect to developing diagnostic capacity might be effectively embedded into existing national disease control networks, such as those for human immunodeficiency virus, tuberculosis, and malaria.