title: Bichat guidelines for the clinical management of haemorrhagic fever viruses and bioterrorism-related haemorrhagic fever viruses.
abstract: Haemorrhagic fever viruses (HFVs) are a diverse group of viruses that cause a clinical disease associated with fever and bleeding disorder. HFVs that are associated with a potential biological threat are Ebola and Marburg viruses (Filoviridae), Lassa fever and New World arenaviruses (Machupo, Junin, Guanarito and Sabia viruses) (Arenaviridae), Rift Valley fever (Bunyaviridae) and yellow fever, Omsk haemorrhagic fever, and Kyanasur Forest disease (Flaviviridae). In terms of biological warfare concerning dengue, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and Hantaviruses, there is not sufficient knowledge to include them as a major biological threat. Dengue virus is the only one of these that cannot be transmitted via aerosol. Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever and the agents of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome appear difficult to weaponise. Ribavirin is recommended for the treatment and the prophylaxis of the arenaviruses and the bunyaviruses, but is not effective for the other families. All patients must be isolated and receive intensive supportive therapy.
authors.affiliation: Task Force on Biological and Chemical Agent Threats, Public Health Directorate, European Commission, Luxembourg. philippe.bossi@psl.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bossi
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tegnell
authors.forename: Agoritsa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baka
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Loock
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hendriks
authors.forename: Albrecht
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maidhof
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gouvras
mesh_terms: D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D006482:Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*