{"id":35547,"date":"2022-05-31T09:21:22","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T16:21:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cww7news.com\/?p=35547"},"modified":"2022-05-31T09:21:23","modified_gmt":"2022-05-31T16:21:23","slug":"crimean-congo-fever-sweeping-through-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cww7news.com\/crimean-congo-fever-sweeping-through-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"Crimean-Congo fever sweeping through Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A virus with a fatality rate of up to 30 per cent is killing unprecedented numbers of people in Iraq.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever was first documented there in 1979 and historically there have been only a handful of cases each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But infections caused by the tick-borne virus have soared since the start of this year, with more than 100 recorded so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cause of the increase is not fully understood but some experts think global warming could have had a hand in it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The National explains everything you need to know about the virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever?
It is a tick-borne virus, first discovered in Crimea in 1944, and subsequently named Crimean haemorrhagic fever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was later also discovered in the Congo, resulting in the current name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is the most widespread type of viral tick-transmitted haemorrhagic fever, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and it can be up to 30 per cent fatal for those hospitalised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is called a haemorrhagic fever as infected people can experience fever and severe bleeding, among other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The virus is transmitted to people by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissue during and immediately after slaughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There is currently no approved vaccine for this disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are the symptoms?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The majority of CCHF cases, more than 80 per cent, are asymptomatic or mild.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More severe symptoms begin suddenly, with a headache, high fever, back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, and vomiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Red eyes, a flushed face, a red throat, and petechiae (red spots) on the palate are also common, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Jaundice can occur, in addition to changes in mood and sensory perception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The incubation period is around three to seven days, less if contracted via tick bite or needle injury as opposed to coming into contact with infected blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n