OMSK HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

Overview and Facts

OMSK hemorrhagic fever (OHF) is an illness caused by an RNA-containing arbovirus of the Togaviridae family Flavivirus, which is antigenically identical to the tick-borne encephalitis virus that mostly affects the western Siberian city of OMSK. Tick bites or contact with an infected or dead animal’s blood, excrement, or urine may cause infection.

Furthermore, the following are at a higher risk of getting the Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever virus.

  • People who live in places where ticks and rodent reservoirs are common.
  • People who capture and hunt muskrats in OMSK, Siberia.
  • Individuals who have work or leisure exposure to outdoor/rural outdoor situations like hunters, campers, farmers, and forest workers, are more likely to come into contact with sick ticks or other animals.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

OMSK Hemorrhagic Fever has an incubation period of 3 to 8 days. Among the primary symptoms are:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Severe Muscle Pain
  • Cough
  • Conjunctival Suffusion 
  • Neck Glands Enlargement
  • Gastrointestinal Disorder

Issues with bleeding or hemorrhage appear three to four days following the beginning of symptoms. The patient may also have localized bleeding in the lungs, gums, and uterus. Furthermore, OMSK Hemorrhagic Fever patients may also have severely low counts of:

  • Low Blood Pressure
  • Low Red Blood Cell
  • Platelet
  • White Blood Cell

In addition, some people heal without complications after 1-2 weeks of symptoms. However, for a subgroup of individuals, the sickness is biphasic, with a second wave of symptoms occurring in the third week. Fever and encephalitis are among the symptoms (inflammation of the brain).

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

OMSK Hemorrhagic Fever virus detection in blood samples may be accomplished by virus isolation in cell culture or molecular methods such as PCR. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) may also be used to screen blood samples for the presence of antibodies.

TREATMENT

There is no treatment or cure for OHF at this time. However, patients are given supportive therapy such as bed rest, intravenous fluids to maintain hydration, blood transfusions if necessary, antibiotic protection to avoid secondary bacterial infection and other standard precautions for patients with bleeding abnormalities.

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