title: Is the epidemiology of alkhurma hemorrhagic fever changing?: A three-year overview in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiology of Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever disease is yet to be fully understood since the virus was isolated in 1994 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Preventive Medicine department, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of all laboratory confirmed cases of Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever disease collected through active and passive surveillance from 1(st)-January 2009 to December, 31, 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever (AHFV) disease increased from 59 cases in 2009 to 93 cases in 2011. Cases are being discovered outside of the region where it was initially diagnosed in Saudi Arabia. About a third of cases had no direct contact with animals or its products. Almost all cases had gastro-intestinal symptoms. Case fatality rate was less than 1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings in this study showed the mode of transmission of AHFV virus may not be limited to direct contact with animals or its products. Gastro-intestinal symptoms were not previously documented. Observed low case fatality rate contradicted earlier reports. Close monitoring of the epidemiology of AHFV is recommended to aid appropriate diagnosis. Housewives are advised to wear gloves when handling animals and animal products as a preventive measure.
authors: Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ; College of Medicine, Al-Faisal University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ziad A
authors: ZA
authors: Memish
authors: Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Shamsudeen F
authors: SF
authors: Fagbo
authors: Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Osman Ali
authors: Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Rafat
authors: R
authors: AlHakeem
authors: Ministry of Health, Najran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
authors: Fathelrhman M
authors: FM
authors: Elnagi
authors: Public Health Directorate, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ; Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors: Elijah A
authors: EA
authors: Bamgboye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004669:Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne / Q000502:physiology*; D004675:Encephalitis, Tick-Borne / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult