Saturday, May 07, 2022

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF)

Starting with this from the CDC:

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is caused by infection with a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) in the family Bunyaviridae. The disease was first characterized in the Crimea in 1944 and given the name Crimean hemorrhagic fever. It was then later recognized in 1969 as the cause of illness in the Congo, thus resulting in the current name of the disease.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is found in Eastern Europe, particularly in the former Soviet Union, throughout the Mediterranean, in northwestern China, central Asia, southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.


The World Health Organization adds:


Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever usually transmitted by ticks. It can also be contracted through contact with viraemic animal tissues (animal tissue where the virus has entered the bloodstream) during and immediately post-slaughter of animals. CCHF outbreaks constitute a threat to public health services as the virus can lead to epidemics, has a high case fatality ratio (10-40%), potentially results in hospital and health facility outbreaks, and is difficult to prevent and treat. CCHF is endemic in all of Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and in Asia. 

The disease was first described in the Crimea in 1944 and given the name Crimean haemorrhagic fever. In 1969 it was recognized that the pathogen causing Crimean haemorrhagic fever was the same as that responsible for an illness identified in 1956 in the Congo. The linkage of the two place names resulted in the current name for the disease and the virus. 


Why are we noting this?  Because Iraqi is currently dealing with it.  Sinan Mahmoud (THE NATIONAL) reports:


Iraq is on high alert after an unusually high number of cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, which has killed eight people so far this year.

Authorities said one person died on Friday as cases of the virus spread to the country's north, AFP reported.

The virus, which has a death rate of up to 40 per cent, is primarily transmitted to humans through tick bites or infected livestock, said the World Health Organisation.

Human-to-human transmission can occur as a result of contact with the blood, organs, secretions or other bodily fluids of infected people, the WHO said.

There is no vaccine available for people or animals.


40 cases have been registered in Iraq so far this year with 23 in Dhi Qar.  Symptoms may include:


* fever 

*hemorrhage/bleeding


* fatique


* Dizziness


* aches in muscles, bones or joints


* nausea, vomiting, diarrhea


* "bleeding under the skin, in internal organs, or from the mouth, eyes or ears"


* nervous system malfunction


* coma


* delirium


* kidney failure


* liver and respiratory failure

 

AFP notes that the most recent death was a butcher and "People are generally infected through contact with the blood of infected animals, often after slaughtering livestock."  THE NATIONAL notes that in response the disease, Iraq is spraying crops and livestock.


The following sites updated:







 

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