To:  All public and private health facilities- Dubai

Preventive medicine section at Dubai Health Authority would like to extend its appreciation and thankfulness for the continuous and joint cooperation exerted by all healthcare providers in Dubai to achieve the shared goal of prevention, and control communicable disease.

Referring to the above subject, Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is among the most important public health emergencies of international concern. The most important viral hemorrhagic fevers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region are Yellow Fever, Rift Valley Fever, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean- Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and Ebola Virus Disease.

The emergence and re-emergence of viral hemorrhagic fevers is growing concern worldwide, as they are associated with occurrence of major epidemic with high case-fatality rates

All health care professionals must be more vigilant about managing any suspected viral hemorrhagic fevers, and should pay attention to people at risk of contracting the infection e.g.  Veterinarians, animal keepers, butchers and travelers to high-risk areas.

Viral hemorrhagic fever notifiable according to communicable diseases law (14 for the year 2014). Immediate notification is mandatory to the respective health department.