Sudan virus

Sudan virus (SUDV) is a species of Ebola virus that causes severe disease in humans and nonhuman primates in the form of Ebola virus disease (EVD). It is one of six known species within the genus Ebolavirus, four of which are known to cause disease in humans.

History

The Sudan virus was first recognized in 1976 during an outbreak in Sudan. The outbreak involved a total of 284 cases, with a case fatality rate of 53%. The virus was named after the location of its first recorded outbreak.

Transmission

SUDV is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The virus is often spread to humans through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. In humans, the virus can be transmitted through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids.

Symptoms

The symptoms of SUDV infection are similar to those of other Ebola virus species and include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

Prevention and Control

Prevention includes reducing the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission and human-to-human transmission. Control measures include rapid and appropriate case management, contact tracing, infection prevention and control practices, safe and dignified burials, and social mobilization.

Treatment

There is currently no licensed treatment proven to neutralize the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development. Patients are frequently dehydrated and require oral rehydration with solutions containing electrolytes or intravenous fluids.

See also

• Ebola virus disease
• Ebola virus
• Zaire ebolavirus
• Reston virus
• Tai Forest virus
• Bundibugyo virus

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