Epidemic hemorrhagic fever

Definition

A zoonotic viral disease characterized by fever, hemorrhagic manifestations, and renal involvement; historically used to describe hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by hantaviruses (family Hantaviridae). Transmitted to humans primarily through aerosolized excreta of infected rodents, with potential involvement of trombiculid mites and ixodid ticks as mechanical or amplifying vectors. The disease exemplifies the intersection of wildlife ecology, rodent population dynamics, and arthropod-associated transmission in medical entomology.

Etymology

From Greek epidemios ('upon the people') + haima ('blood') + rhegnumi ('to burst'); coined in mid-20th century during outbreaks in Asia linked to rodent-arthropod transmission cycles.

Example

Outbreaks of epidemic hemorrhagic fever in rural China during the 1980s were traced to contact with Apodemus agrarius (striped field mouse) excreta in harvested grain stores; subsequent studies implicated trombiculid mites in maintaining viral circulation among rodent populations.

Synonyms

• hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome
• HFRS
• Korean hemorrhagic fever

Related Terms

• hantavirus
• Zoonosis
• rodent-borne disease
• trombiculid mite
• vector-borne disease
• viral hemorrhagic fever
• Epidemiology

Usage Notes

The term 'epidemic hemorrhagic fever' is now largely superseded by 'hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome' (HFRS) in clinical and epidemiological literature. Distinguish from 'epidemic typhus' (Rickettsia prowazekii, louse-borne) and 'dengue hemorrhagic fever' (mosquito-borne flavivirus), which share clinical features but have distinct arthropod vectors and etiologies. In entomological contexts, emphasize the role of mites and ticks in viral maintenance rather than direct human transmission.