Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF): An Emerging Disease in Pakistan
Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF): An Emerging Disease in Pakistan
Behzad Hussain1, 2, Abdullah Iqbal2, Muhammad Abubakar2*
ABSTRACT
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is an emerging deadly viral disease in Pakistan and is becoming endemic in many regions. The first case of CCHF was reported in 1976 in Rawalpindi and after that, multiple sporadic cases and outbreaks have occurred in subsequent years and till today. CCHF outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 40%, which is alarming. It is a zoonotic disease and the virus is transmitted mainly to the humans through hard tick bite and direct contact with blood of the infected animal. The occurrence of CCHF outbreak in Pakistan is increased quite significantly near Eid-ul-Adha. Haemorrhages are the major signs of this fatal disease. No treatment of CCHF is available currently but Ribavirin antiviral drug is used to cure this disease. There is currently no commercially available vaccine for this disease. It is recommended that the disease can be controlled by adopting preventive measures such as avoiding of tick bites and contact with blood of the suspected animal.
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