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Safety and Health Topics: Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF) are a group of disease caused by ribonucleic acid (RNA) viruses from four distinct families. These diseases include Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever, Lassa fever, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, and Yellow Fever. Symptoms vary with the disease, but often include fever, fatigue, and muscle aches. There may be bleeding, although death from blood loss is rare. Severe cases can include shock and coma. Although some types of VHFs are relatively mild illnesses, many of them can cause severe, life-threatening disease with high fatality rates. Hemorrhagic fever viruses are among the six agents identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as the most likely to be used as biological weapons. The following questions link to resources that provide safety and health information relative to VHFs. What OSHA standards apply? Standards | Preambles | Directives What are VHFs; are they a significant bioterrorist threat? Hazard Recognition | Disease Recognition | Bioterrorist Threat Evaluation How would the medical community respond to a VHF outbreak? Emergency Response | Diagnosis and Treatment How can VHFs be controlled and prevented? Control and Prevention | Vaccination Where can I find additional information? Related Safety and Health Topics | Additional Resources   Revised: 22 December 2003		Safety and Health  Topics     Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs)   OSHA Standards   Hazard Recognition   Medical Response   Control and Prevention   Additional Information   Credits
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