Hemorrhagic fever is a label for a group of viral diseases that cause similar symptoms, particularly fever and bleeding disorders. They can range from mild to extremely deadly and include Lassa fever, Ebola and yellow fever. In all, five different families of such viruses have been identified.
In most cases, treatment is similar and includes supportive care until the virus can be dealt with by the patient's immune system. In most cases, prevention is important and should include strict hygiene and isolation precauctions, particularly for medical personnel dealing with such cases.