Imported Virus Infections (Archives of Virology. Supplementa, 11)

Today? s mobility of large parts of the human population ? whether related to commercial travel or to touristic activities ? carries the risk of spreading infectious diseases. Both infected individuals and vectors of infectious agents are rapidly transported over sometimes huge geographic distances. In this special issue this situation is illustrated and analyzed in a series of articles written by experts in the field. Emphasis is placed on insect- and rodent-borne viral infections such as those caused by Dengue, Japanese encephalitis, sand fly fever and Lassa virus as well as by hepatitis viruses and HIV. The core part of the volume, however, deals with filovirus infections (Ebola, Marburg). It illustrates in detail the biological and epidemiological characteristics of these viruses and summarizes today? s possibilities for prevention and, to some extent, also therapy. For all those interested in the epidemiology of travel related infections and eventually confronted with diagnosis and management of imported viral infections, the volume will be a valuable source of information. For the clinician it will provide guidance for selecting the appropriate diagnostic approach and a detailed description of necessary control measures will prove helpful to develop an effective scenario for the handling of patients infected by high hazard viruses. Read more