Lujo virus

Etiology

• agent of arenavirus associated viral hemorrhagic fever

Epidemiology

• fatal nosocomial outbreak in Johannesburg (2009)
• only reported from a patient from Zambia & subsequent nosocomial outbreak in South Africa

Clinical manifestations

• morbilliform rash of the face & trunk
• face & neck swelling
• pharyngitis
• diarrhea
• hemorrhage not a prominent feature
• in fatal cases (4/5 patients), a transient improvement was followed by:
  • rapid deterioration with respiratory failure
  • neurological signs
  • cardiogenic shock
  • death 10-13 days after onset
• clinical syndrome remarkably similar to Lassa fever

Laboratory

• complete blood count
  • leukopenia at onset, rising later
  • thrombocytopenia
• liver function tests
  • elevated serum transaminases

Complications

• infected pregnant women may suffer miscarriage

Management

• airborne precautions
  • specialized precautions to protect against aerosolized particles when performing high-risk procedures such as endotracheal intubation

More general terms

• arenavirus