Alkhumra (Alkhurma) virus outbreak in Najran, Saudi Arabia: Epidemiological, clinical, and Laboratory characteristics

Summary Objective After its first appearance in Alkhumra district of Jeddah in 1994–1995, and then in Makkah in 2001–2003, the new hemorrhagic fever virus, known as Alkhu mr a (misnamed as Alkhu rm a) virus ( ALKV ), has subsequently been reported from Najran, in the south border of Saudi Arabia. Me...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infection 2011-01, Vol.62 (1), p.67-76
Main Authors: Madani, Tariq A, Azhar, Esam I, Abuelzein, El-Tayeb M.E, Kao, Mujahed, Al-Bar, Hussein M.S, Abu-Araki, Huda, Niedrig, Matthias, Ksiazek, Thomas G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Alkhumra virus
Alkhurma virus
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Communicable Diseases, Emerging - diagnosis
Communicable Diseases, Emerging - epidemiology
Communicable Diseases, Emerging - transmission
Disease Outbreaks
Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne - isolation & purification
Female
Flavivirus Infections - diagnosis
Flavivirus Infections - epidemiology
Flavivirus Infections - transmission
General aspects
Hemorrhagic fever virus
Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral - diagnosis
Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral - epidemiology
Hemorrhagic Fevers, Viral - transmission
Humans
Infectious Disease
Ixodidae
Jeddah
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Najran
Risk Factors
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia - epidemiology
Young Adult
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Summary:Summary Objective After its first appearance in Alkhumra district of Jeddah in 1994–1995, and then in Makkah in 2001–2003, the new hemorrhagic fever virus, known as Alkhu mr a (misnamed as Alkhu rm a) virus ( ALKV ), has subsequently been reported from Najran, in the south border of Saudi Arabia. Methods This is a descriptive cohort study summarizing the epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics of ALKV infected patients diagnosed in Najran from 1 August 2003 through 31 December 2009. Results A total of 148 suspected cases were reported, of which 78 (52.7%) cases were laboratory confirmed; 2 cases in 2003, 1 case in 2004, 4 cases in 2005, 1 case in 2007, 12 cases in 2008, and 58 cases in 2009. The cases were reported year round but 64.1% (50/78) of them occurred in the summer time. Twenty-five (32.1%) cases occurred as clusters in 5 families. The virus seemed to be transmitted from livestock animals to humans by direct contact with these animals and likely by mosquito bites. Ticks did not seem to be involved in the transmission of infection from animals to humans. Clinical and laboratory features included fever (100%), headache (85.9%), malaise (85.9%), arthralgia (83.3%), anorexia (82.1%), myalgia (82.1%), backache (71.8%), nausea and vomiting (71.8%), chills (60.3%), retro-orbital pain (55.1%), diarrhea (51.3%), abdominal pain (48.7%), hemorrhagic manifestations (25.6%), central nervous system manifestations (23.1%), leucopenia (87.7%), elevated liver enzymes (85.7%), prolonged partial thromboplastin time (52.6%), thrombocytopenia (46.2%), elevated creatine kinase level (45.7%), and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (25.0%). Conclusion ALKV infection has now been recognized outside its original boundaries in Saudi Arabia which may herald its identification in other countries.
ISSN:0163-4453
1532-2742
DOI:10.1016/j.jinf.2010.09.032