Classification and Common Characteristics of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs):

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Classification and Common Characteristics of Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs):

Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are caused by four different families of RNA viruses:

FamilyViruses Included
Filoviridae Ebola and Marburg
Arenaviridae Lassa fever
Bunyaviridae Hantaviruses
Flaviviridae Yellow fever and dengue

There are several characteristics that these four families of viruses have in common:
  • ALL are single-stranded RNA viruses
  • ALL are contained within a lipid/fatty envelope
  • ALL require an animal or insect host (known as the natural reservoir) for their survival
  • NONE use humans as their natural reservoir