Latest news with #Crimean-CongoHaemorrhagicFever
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Congo virus claims three lives in K-P
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Health Adviser Ehtesham Ali has confirmed that three individuals have died from the Congo virus so far in the province, while one patient currently undergoing treatment at the hospital has tested positive. Additionally, six suspected patients are admitted and are undergoing diagnostic procedures. He expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives due to the Congo virus at Hayatabad Medical Complex. According to the adviser, two of the deceased patients - both from Karak district - succumbed to the virus last night, while a third, hailing from North Waziristan, passed away on June 16. He attributed the recent outbreak to the lack of precautionary measures during Eid celebrations as animal markets had been established across the province. Ehtesham Ali appealed to the public to strictly follow the health department's guidelines for Congo virus prevention and to exercise caution when handling livestock to avert further loss of life. He further informed that the Department of Health has activated its Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system to monitor and respond to Congo virus cases promptly. District Health Officers (DHOs) in the affected areas have been notified, and contact tracing along with sanitization efforts are underway at the homes of the deceased to prevent the virus from spreading. It may be recalled that last week, two patients affected by the Congo virus were admitted to HMC in Peshawar with their condition reported to be out of danger initially. According to the hospital spokesperson, 28-year-old Aijaz from Karak was brought to the hospital in critical condition on June 14. Another 23-year-old patient, Safiyan, also from Karak, was admitted on June 15. After receiving medical treatment, both patients are now stable and no longer in critical condition, he claimed. The spokesperson added that both affected individuals work in animal care. In April, Pakistan's National Institute of Health (NIH) issued public health advisories regarding the risks of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) .
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Two Congo virus cases admitted to Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar
Listen to article Two patients affected by the Congo virus have been admitted to Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawer with their condition reported to be out of danger. According to the hospital spokesperson, 28-year-old Aijaz from Karak was brought to the hospital in critical condition on June 14. Another 23-year-old patient, Safiyan, also from Karak, was admitted on June 15. After receiving medical treatment, both patients are now stable and no longer in critical condition. The spokesperson added that both affected individuals work in animal care. Read: Poliovirus detected in Hyderabad sample In April, Pakistan's National Institute of Health (NIH) issued public health advisories regarding the risks of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and the increasing dangers of heatwaves and sunstroke, emphasising the growing climate-related challenges in the country. The advisory urged healthcare institutions and authorities to implement timely and appropriate measures to prevent disease outbreaks during the summer months. CCHF, a potentially fatal viral disease caused by the Nairovirus, was primarily transmitted to humans through tick bites, especially from infected livestock like goats, sheep, and rabbits. The virus could also spread through direct contact with blood or tissues of infected animals, particularly during or after slaughter. Human-to-human transmission was possible, especially in clinical or domestic settings. According to NIH data, Pakistan had reported 61 cases of CCHF in 2024. The advisory recommended wearing light-coloured clothing to make ticks more visible and advised citizens to avoid areas with heavy tick infestations. It also encouraged the safe removal of any visible ticks from skin or clothing.
Shafaq News
28-04-2025
- Health
- Shafaq News
CCHF: Kirkuk bans animal movement, illegal slaughter
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, Kirkuk Governor Rebwar Taha ordered the formation of a crisis cell to address the growing outbreak of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in the province. The governor's office stated that he chaired an emergency meeting that resulted in the formation of the cell tasked with monitoring the evolving health situation. Authorities decided to ban unauthorized livestock slaughter across Kirkuk and granted local administrators powers to enforce the ban, including taking legal action against violators. The Kirkuk Veterinary Hospital was assigned to conduct widespread disinfection campaigns targeting livestock. Authorities also ordered a 21-day ban on the movement of animals in and out of the province to curb the spread of infection. Officials stressed the need to intensify health inspections and support media efforts to raise public awareness about preventive measures. Governor al-Jubouri said the steps were aimed at safeguarding public health and ensuring a rapid response to any further developments. Earlier on Sunday, Talat Mahmoud Bakr, director of Kirkuk's Veterinary Hospital, announced new preventive measures to combat the outbreak. On Friday, Kirkuk's Director of Health, Arjan Mohammed Rashid, confirmed that three people had died and five others were infected amid a surge in hemorrhagic fever cases. He said rapid response teams were working to contain the outbreak. According to Shafaq News tracker, 27 CCHF cases had been recorded nationwide since the beginning of the year, including four fatalities. Hemorrhagic fevers are infectious diseases that can cause severe, life-threatening illnesses, including damage to blood vessel walls and impaired blood clotting. Early symptoms can include fever, fatigue, dizziness, muscle or joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. More severe symptoms may involve internal or external bleeding, neurological dysfunction, coma, organ failure, and death.
Shafaq News
27-04-2025
- Health
- Shafaq News
CCHF: Iraq's Kirkuk intensifies prevention efforts
Shafaq News/ On Sunday, health authorities in Kirkuk announced a series of preventive measures to curb the spread of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in the province. Talat Mahmoud Bakr, the Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Kirkuk, reported to Shafaq News that discussions took place with the Kirkuk Governor, the district mayor, and the Director-General of the province's Health Directorate. The outcome was a complete ban on the movement of livestock into and out of the province. Additionally, the construction of unauthorized animal pens has been prohibited, and the raising of livestock within residential areas is banned to protect public health. Unlicensed butcher shops failing to comply with health regulations will also be shut down. Following the discussions, plans were set to intensify spraying, dipping, and epidemiological surveillance campaigns across Kirkuk. Public awareness campaigns will be expanded, and residents have been urged to promptly report any suspected cases of the disease. According to Shafaq News' tracker, 27 cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) have been recorded nationwide since the beginning of the year, including four fatalities. CCHF, which is transmitted by tick bites or contact with infected animal blood, is highly contagious and can be fatal in more than 40% of cases, particularly if not treated promptly.
Shafaq News
22-04-2025
- Health
- Shafaq News
Blood, ticks, and broken systems: The resurgence of CCHF in Iraq
Shafaq News/ In the spring of 2025, Iraq is once again facing a deadly virus it never fully eliminated. Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) has re-emerged, resulting in fatalities in Kirkuk and reaching provinces previously considered low-risk. The deaths of a young doctor and a village butcher have unsettled communities already under pressure, as rising tick populations and unregulated livestock movement contribute to the virus's continued spread. Each new case reflects broader challenges, a strained healthcare system, under-resourced rural areas, and a country navigating the combined impact of climate shifts and long-term underinvestment. Understanding CCHF Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a deadly but often overlooked viral disease caused by a Nairovirus. Transmitted primarily through Hyalomma ticks, it can also spread via contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected animals, and in some cases, from human to human, particularly in healthcare settings. The disease typically begins with nonspecific symptoms such as fever, dizziness, and muscle pain, but can rapidly progress to internal bleeding, liver failure, and, in many cases, death. With a mortality rate ranging from 10% to 40%, rapid diagnosis and isolation are essential to containing outbreaks and saving lives. CCHF is endemic in more than 30 countries, spanning regions of the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. Yet Iraq has emerged as one of the hardest-hit. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies it among the most severely affected countries in the Eastern Mediterranean. A 2024 bulletin from the International Society for Infectious Diseases highlighted the dire situation, warning that rural Iraqis face some of the highest exposure risks in the region. Escalating Numbers Iraq has witnessed a steady and deeply troubling rise in CCHF cases over the past five years. Between 2020 and early 2022, the country recorded over 300 confirmed infections, marking its most severe outbreak in decades. In 2020, Iraq registered 63 confirmed cases. That figure more than doubled in 2021. By May 2022, the country had already documented 212 cases, a sixfold year-on-year increase. The surge was concentrated in the south: Dhi Qar reported 90 cases, Mayan 72, and al-Muthanna 61. Together, these three provinces accounted for more than 60% of all infections that year. But the trend did not stop there. In 2023, Iraq recorded 511 confirmed cases, an unprecedented annual total, with a fatality rate of 14%, resulting in approximately 72 deaths. By spring 2025, the virus had crept into new territory. Kirkuk registered 19 confirmed infections and two fatalities. In Nineveh and Diyala, veterinary authorities reported rising tick populations around farms, signaling a worrying northward shift in the disease's geographical footprint. 'We are witnessing vector migration northwards,' explained Shafaq News, Dr. Samira al-Obeidi of Baghdad University. 'Climate and unregulated trade are redrawing Iraq's epidemiological map.' The human toll has grown more personal. In Kirkuk, the virus claimed the life of Dr. Adnan Rauf, a 34-year-old physician at Azadi Teaching Hospital. Known for his dedication, he continued treating patients even after protective equipment ran out. 'He wouldn't stop treating people, even when he knew the risks,' recalled a colleague. The second fatality in Kirkuk was 42-year-old Khalid Mahmoud, a butcher from Laylan district. He had handled sheep bought from an unregulated vendor, an all-too-common practice in underserved areas. 'He had no choice... We couldn't afford to say no,' his brother shared from quarantine. Three other villagers later developed similar symptoms. While the southern provinces, particularly Dhi Qar, Maysan, and al-Muthanna, have historically borne the brunt of CCHF outbreaks, the recent fatalities in Kirkuk have sparked growing alarm. Northern regions, with their weaker surveillance systems and limited public health outreach, may be ill-prepared to face a full-scale spread. A Tangle of Risk Factors Multiple interconnected factors have heightened Iraq's vulnerability to the CCHF. Since 1970, average temperatures in the country have risen by 1.6°C, lengthening the active season of Hyalomma ticks, the primary vectors of the virus. This climate shift, compounded by porous borders and traditional livestock practices, has created a perfect storm for transmission. Unregulated animal movement across Iraq's borders with Iran and Syria plays a critical role. Livestock are frequently smuggled into the country, bypassing health inspections entirely. 'Animals are being smuggled in without any health inspection,' explained veterinary epidemiologist Dr. Latif al-Khalidi to Shafaq News. Once mixed with local herds, these animals can introduce the virus deep into Iraq's interior. Inside rural communities, protective measures are alarmingly scarce. Gloves are rarely used, and awareness of the disease remains limited. A 2024 Ministry of Agriculture survey revealed that fewer than 22% of herders in high-risk zones had received any training on CCHF prevention, leaving both livestock handlers and their communities dangerously exposed. The risks intensify during Eid al-Adha (the second of the two main festivals in Islam alongside Eid al-Fitr,) when the transport and ritual slaughter of animals dramatically increase. In 2023 alone, more than 2.4 million animals were sacrificed, often in unsanitary open-air markets with no veterinary oversight. 'In rural towns, there are often no municipal slaughterhouses,' noted Basim Karim, a public health officer in al-Diwaniyah. 'Animals are slaughtered on the street, sometimes by people who've never even heard of CCHF.' While Iraqi regulations prohibit unsupervised slaughter, enforcement is weak. A 2023 review by the Iraqi Red Crescent found that only 28% of rural towns implemented hygiene measures during Eid. The report also pointed to a combination of insufficient personnel and local resistance to outside intervention as the main obstacles. Progress Amid Persistent Gaps Since 2022, Iraqi authorities have stepped up efforts to contain the spread of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF). Joint campaigns by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture rolled out large-scale acaricide spraying and livestock dipping programs, particularly in high-risk provinces. By 2024, over 120,000 animals were treated across Saladin and al-Wasit alone, marking one of the most extensive veterinary mobilizations the country has undertaken in years. Preventive health approaches were also broadened. In Kirkuk, six unauthorized slaughterhouses were shut down in early 2025. Medical teams began distributing gloves, masks, and disinfectants to butchers and farmers, targeting those on the front lines of exposure. Public awareness campaigns are also adapting to rural realities, utilizing local radio and TikTok to relay information in dialects specific to remote communities. These measures represent significant progress, but the impact has been uneven. Tick infestations remain widespread in several provinces, and human transmission continues to rise, particularly in regions with weak infrastructure. 'The problem isn't effort, it's reach,' explained Dr. Haidar Al-Kinani, Director of the Communicable Diseases Control Center in Baghdad. 'Many of our campaigns don't penetrate remote areas. We need mobile clinics, local mediators, and most critically, a consistent funding stream.' Indeed, funding has emerged as a persistent bottleneck. Despite multiple fact-finding missions by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Iraq has struggled to secure long-term international backing. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) declined Iraq's 2023 appeal, citing poor regional coordination and the absence of a cohesive national strategy. These limitations are especially evident in rural health infrastructure. Most clinics outside major cities lack isolation units, and many hospitals remain short on personal protective equipment. The country has only two biosafety level 3 laboratories capable of diagnosing hemorrhagic fevers. 'We're stretched thin,' cautioned Dr. Luma Abdel-Qader, a virologist at the Central Public Health Laboratory in Baghdad. 'Between delays in sample transport and limited testing capacity, we're constantly playing catch-up.' Compared to Iraq's fragmented response, neighboring countries have implemented more structured approaches. Iran has deployed over 500 mobile veterinary teams in endemic zones. Jordan requires health certifications before animal slaughter. Saudi Arabia has invested $6 million in tick-related research and enforces strict livestock quarantine protocols. Despite its vulnerability, Iraq remains excluded from regional platforms like the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Zoonoses initiative. A 2024 WHO report emphasized that the country 'lacks a centralized zoonotic disease strategy, leaving provincial authorities to respond in isolation.' Non-governmental organizations, which might have helped fill the gaps, have also scaled back. 'It's a difficult working environment,' confessed to Shafaq News, Noura Yassin, a program coordinator at MedGlobal. 'The risks are high, and local systems aren't always ready for partnership.' While Iraqi officials deserve credit for launching serious initiatives, the results remain constrained by deeper structural issues. According to Medical Intern Ibrahim Saleh, the campaigns have delivered progress, but not containment. 'Without sustained investment, a centralized disease control strategy, and regional collaboration, the fight against CCHF risks remaining reactive and insufficient.'
