LUJO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER (LUHF)

Overview and Facts

Lujo hemorrhagic fever (LUHF) is caused by Lujo virus, a single-stranded Arenaviridae virus. As with other arenaviruses, the reservoir for the Lujo virus is a rodent. LUHF may be transmitted to humans by contact with an infected rodent. Aerosolized Lujo virus from urine or feces of infected rats may be inhaled or transmitted via direct contact.

In the modest, nosocomial cluster of hemorrhagic sickness that led to the identification of the Lujo virus, person-to-person transmission of the virus was seen. Transmission of the Lujo virus is most likely due to direct contact with an infected person’s body fluids in the absence of infection control measures.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

As reported by patients in the first cluster epidemic, the symptoms of Lujo hemorrhagic fever match those of severe Lassa Fever. After seven to thirteen days of incubation, the clinical course started with a non-specific febrile illness accompanied by headache and muscular discomfort.

Intensity of the condition increases with:

  • diarrhea
  • swelling of the face and neck
  • pharyngitis (sore throat)
  • morbilliform rash of the face and trunk

Blood loss was not a significant symptom of the sickness.

In fatal situations, a brief improvement was accompanied by the following:

  • Neurological symptoms, and circulatory collapse
  • Rapid decline accompanied by respiratory difficulty

Death happened 10 to 13 days following the commencement of symptoms.

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

The Lujo virus was isolated from blood between days two and thirteen after the onset of the acute fever stage. The virus was also isolated from post-mortem liver tissue. Following that, a full genomic study of the Lujo virus aided in the creation of specialized molecular detection (RT-PCR) techniques.

Indirect immunofluorescent assays and ELISA may be used to make a serologic diagnosis of Lujo hemorrhagic fever (LUHF). Patients from endemic regions who display rash, pharyngitis, and fever, as well as low platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes, must be suspected of having an infection with the hemorrhagic fever virus.  Specific tests should be used to evaluate clinical material.

TREATMENT

In Lujo hemorrhagic fever, supportive care is critical. This includes the following:

  • sedation
  • pain relief
  • hydration maintenance
  • shock management
  • transfusions (when required) 
  • precautions for individuals with bleeding problems are standard

Convalescent plasma therapy greatly decreases mortality in arenavirus hemorrhagic fevers, and anecdotal data from the single surviving Lujo patient suggests that the antiviral medicine ribavirin may have promise in the treatment of LUHF. Ribavirin has been explored for illness prevention in patients exposed to different arenaviruses.

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