This disease appeared in the UK and Spain for the first time this year

Photo Credits: Wikipedia, CDC

Name
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)

• The disease was discovered in Crimea in 1944 and in 1969 it was recognized as the same pathogen responsible for an illness identified in 1956 in Congo
• Thus the joint name was formed

Transmission

• CCHF is caused by a virus
• The virus lives in ticks (insects)
  • These ticks live on wild and domestic animals such as cattle, goats, sheep and hares
• People contract the virus through tick bites or contact with infected ticks and animal blood
• CCHF spreads from person to person through contact with infectious blood or body fluids

Geography
Eastern Europe (particularly in the former Soviet Union), throughout the Mediterranean, northwestern China, central Asia, southern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and India

Incubation Period
1 – 13 days

Signs and Symptoms

The intial onset of symptoms is quick and includes:

• Headache
• Vomiting
• Fever
• Dizziness
• Neck pain/stiffness
• Muscle pain
• Diarrhea
• Backache
• Nausea
• Sore eyes
• Sensitivity to light
• Abdominal pain
• Sore throat
• Mood swings
• Confusion

After 2 – 4 days symptoms include:

• Pain in upper right side of abdomen
• Sleepiness
• Depression
• Jaundice (yellow eyes and skin)
• Altered senses
• Severe bruising and bleeding

Diagnosis
Laboratory testing of blood or tissue samples

Treatment

• Treatment usually involves supportive care to treat the symptoms
• The antiviral drug ribavirin has shown some benefit in the treatment of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Prognosis

• CCHF outbreaks have a death rate of up to 40%, with death usually occurring in the 2nd week of illness
• Patients who recover usually begin feeling better on the 9th or 10th day after the onset of illness
• Recovery is slow and it could take up to a year for survivors to make a full recovery

Prevention: What Can You Do?

• There is no vaccine for people or animals
• It is difficult to stop the spread of ticks in animal populations
• Agricultural workers and those working with animals are most at risk
• To reduce your exposure to ticks:
  • Wear long clothing
  • Wear light colored clothing (to easily see ticks)
  • Use insect repellents on skin and clothing

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever In the News

• Doctors on Lookout for Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Spain
• Should You Worry About Tick Borne Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever In Spain?
• Vigilance urged as potentially virus-carrying tick enters UK

Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/crimean-congo/
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs208/en/