Rabea, Minister of Health, has ordered the formation of a multi-dimentional National Committee for the prevention of Al-Khurma fever, Dr. Khalid Marghlani, the ministry spokesperson said here Sunday. Dr. Ziayd Ahmed Meemesh, Undersecretary for Preventive Medicine in the ministry would head the committee, Marghlani said. The committee has been tasked with following up updates on Al-Khurma virus. It will also participate in the development of plans and recommendations for combating the disease, its prevention and its awareness, said Marghlani. The virus (genus Flavivirus, AHFV) was recently identified as the agent of a viral hemorrhagic fever in Saudi Arabia and characterized serologically and genetically as a variant genotype of Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV). Since viral diagnosis and vaccine development may be hindered by genetic diversity, this study was intended to address AHFV genetic heterogeneity. Eleven strains isolated from hospitalized patients from 1994 to 1999 in Saudi Arabia were sequenced in the envelope, NS3, and NS5 genes. Homologous sequences were compared and used to look for patterns reflecting specific evolution associated with spatiality, temporality, infection pathway, and disease prognosis. Genetic analyses showed low diversity, which suggests a slow microevolution. Evaluation of divergence times showed that AHFV and KFDV ancestral lineage diverged 66-77 years ago, and the diversity observed within the studied AHFV strains reflected a 4 to 72-year period of evolution. Earlier last week, Dr. Al-Rabea launched an international workshop on the national plan to discuss Al-Khurma fever with participation of experts from the World Health Organization.
