What are hemorrhagic fevers?
Definition Hemorrhagic fevers are caused by viruses that exist throughout the world. However, they are most common in tropical areas. Early symptoms, such as muscle aches and fever, can progress to a mild illness or to a more debilitating, potentially fatal disease. In severe cases, a prominent symptom is bleeding, or hemorrhaging, from orifices and internal organs. Description Although hemorrhagic fevers are regarded as emerging diseases, they probably have existed for many years. This designation isn’t meant to imply that they are newly developing, but rather that human exposure to the causative viruses is increasing to the point of concern. These viruses are maintained in nature in arthropod (insects, spiders and other invertebrates with external hard skeletons) or animal populations—so-called disease reservoirs. Individuals within these populations become infected with a virus but do not die from it. In many cases, they don’t even develop symptoms. Then the viruses are transmitted
