Death from Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Turkey

حمى القرم - الكونغو القرمزيه في تركيا

Location of recent CCHF in Turkey

CCHF In Iran 2000-2010 (738 Cases)

CCHF virus is endemic in many countries in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Outbreaks have recently been recorded in Russia, Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mauritania, Kosovo, Albania, Pakistan and South Africa

The Turkish Press has reported that on April 16^th a 56 year old man from Kavak, in the Boyabat district of the Sinop Province near the Black Sea, had died from CCHF. He had removed ticks from his cow(s) on April 4^th and the following day started to vomit and felt weak. He was treated in a hospital in Kastamonou  and when CCHF was suspected he was sent to a hospital in Istanbul where efforts to save him failed.

The Tick which Cary the Virus
القراد الناقل لفيروس المرض

CCHF is caused by a virus of the genus Nairovirus and is spread by ticks of the genus Hyalomma and are found on cattle, sheep and goats in throughout the Middle East . Livestock show no outward signs of infection but humans develop dizziness, muscular pain, stiffness and bleeding. Mortality rates in humans lies between 10 to 40%. People are unaware that they have been bitten by an infected tick until the onset of symptoms. Turkey confirmed a case of CCHF in 2002 and the number of cases has increased steadily since then and together with Iran, Russia and Uzbekistan Turkey reports more than 50 cases a year. This may be due to good surveillance procedures and proper diagnostics in these countries.

Heamorrhagic  Fever in Man

With CCHF reported in our neighbouring countries( Iran & Turkey) we cannot be complacent and should be extremely vigilant for symptoms of this disease in people in contact with livestock. Where the livestock is we can be sure that ticks will be too and any human coming into contact with animals carrying ticks is at risk. This includes farmers, livestock owners, slaughtermen, traders and veterinarians and we are placed at greater risk because of the ever increased  illegal movement of animals across our borders.

We in Iraq need, stringent import and export control, efficient surveillance procedures and proper diagnostic facilities to fight zoonotic diseases.