Naslov
Epidemiological characteristics and Military Implications of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome in Croatia
(Epidemiological characteristics and Military Implications of Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal)

Autori
Mulić, Rosanda ; Ropac, Darko

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
NATO Medical Conference, Book of abstracts / Arild Kovdal - Ljubljana, 2003, 56-56

Skup
NATO Medical Conference incorporating 7th NATO Blood Conference

Mjesto i datum
Ljubljana, Slovenija, 01.09.2003. - 04.09.2003

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Hemorrhagic fever; epidemiology; military personnel; Croatia

Sažetak
The aim of this study was to describe epidemiological characteristics of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Croatia, and to identify their military implications. The data from obligatory infectious diseases reports and notification of deaths due to infectious diseases were analyzed, along with the data on the epidemics of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Croatia, and then they were compared with data from this study. During period between 1987 and 2002, 555 cases of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome were recorded in Croatia, 160 (28.8%) of these among soldiers. The mortality rate was high as 15.4% (mean 1.1% ; 6/555). The highest number of cases (317) was recorded during 2002.The epidemic started during the winter, and the highest numbers of cases were recorded in the months of June and July (due to the increased activity of both animals and humans, acting as infection reservoirs and hosts. The epidemic spread throughout most of Croatia. The known natural foci of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome have been the Plitvice and Slunj areas, Dinara Mountain, Velika and Mala Kapela mountains, the Zagreb area (Velika Gorica and Jastrebarsko) the Gorski Kotar area (Ogulin, Delnice), west Slavonia, and the Novska area. The disease has not been recorded in the litoral area and the Adriatic islands. The disease was also recorded in the neighboring countries of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. The identified causative agents include Dobrava and Puumala, which are viruses of the genus Hantavirus. Rodents, including Clethrionomys glareolus (bank vole), Apodemus flavicollis (yellow-necked field mouse), Apodemus agrarius (black-striped field mouse), and Apodemus sylvaticus (wood mouse), serve as the main reservoirs for the infection in Croatia. Typical biotypes of the infection in Croatia are deciduous woods. The 2002 epidemic confirmed the presumption that most continental Croatia is a natural focus for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The disease usually occurs sporadically ; the epidemics frequently accompany armed conflicts. Thus, soldiers are group at the highest risk in both war and peacetime conditions. Therefore, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome is an important disease from the viewpoint of military epidemiology.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Javno zdravstvo i zdravstvena zaštita

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