Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (Cchf)

CCHF is a viral vector-borne disease transmitted by an infected a tick or through contact with animal tissues infected with the virus. The disease is found in Eastern Europe and around the Mediterranean, Russia, Northwest China, Africa, Middle East and India. It has a high fatality rate (10-40%). It is estimated there are 10,000 to 15,000 infections each year with around 500 deaths.

Case reports are mostly agricultural workers who are exposed to ticks when working with animals. Most animals have no symptoms.

The risk to travellers is very low. Expatriate and humanitarian workers in the agricultural sector, in areas of risk, should be aware of the disease and use extra precautions with clothing and repellants to reduce exposure to ticks.