Crimean Congo Bleeding Fever Found In Spain

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever is not new, but due to recent events, it is important to be aware of all possible facts related to this disease. One fact about this virus is that it is only transmitted through direct contact.

On August 25, 2016, a 62-year-old man from Madrid died of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever in Spain. This has made the alarm bells ring. The news reached the media and suddenly the Spaniards heard about a disease that almost no one had known about before.

However, it must be remembered that the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is not new. In fact, it has appeared in Spain in the past.

This year, another person has also contracted the disease: the caregiver who took care of that 62-year-old patient is now in critical condition. He is now in isolation in a special ward equipped to treat only this contagious tick-borne disease.

Despite the shocking news, experts have asked the Spaniards to remain calm. While many have compared it to the Ebola virus, there is no reason to come to this unfounded conclusion. Now the most important thing is to search all available information to know what to expect. 

Below we provide all the most relevant information about the Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever.

What is Crimean Congo Bleeding Fever?

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines this disease as viral cerebral hemorrhage, which is estimated to have a mortality rate of up to 40 percent.

We know the following details about the Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever:

• It is a type of virus that comes from the Bunyaviridae family.
• It is spread through mites, mosquitoes, rodents and in direct contact with contaminated livestock.
• It spreads to humans only when the patient has direct contact with blood, secretions or other body fluids.
• Adherence to air has been found to be impossible. In other words, the disease is not transmitted through the air, but through fluids. This explains why the caregiver who treated the sick patient got the virus.
• Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia.
• It is common in countries below 50 degrees north.

What are the symptoms of this disease?

The disease has an incubation period of 3 days after the mite has been bitten, or after the person has touched the blood or other fluids of the infected animal.

The affected person then begins to experience fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, dizziness, neck stiffness, and photosensitivity. Other symptoms include swelling of the liver and spleen (hepatomegaly), which also includes swelling of the lymph nodes, bleeding, high fever and confusion.

As we mentioned earlier, the mortality rate from Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever is about 40%. Several patients die in the second week after receiving the disease, but those who recover show good signs of recovery as early as day 9.

Unfortunately, there is no vaccine for this disease, but only in a few cases does this disease develop completely. 

Should I be worried?

The short answer is: no. As experts have reported, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever is not easily contagious. Besides, this is not its first appearance in Spain, for example.

• For example, in 2011, a pathogen in this disease was found in a deer population in Cáceres, Spain.
• In addition, it must be remembered that this virus develops completely in humans, not animals. Thus, we do not see any symptoms in animals such as deer, cows, pigs, rats, etc.
• Because of this, the greatest risk group for this disease are those people who work in direct contact with livestock. 
• But because farms are subject to medical examinations, it is not common for viruses to spread far.

In fact, none of us are often in direct contact with body secretions or feces. However, health professionals, as well as farm and slaughterhouse workers, are undoubtedly at higher risk of becoming infected.

In short, we need to be calm, and simply keep ourselves aware of the Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever.

How did this virus end up in Spain?

Medical professionals at Carlos III Hospital in Madrid, the same hospital that treats a sick nurse, say viruses are already a daily risk we face. 

For example, international travel, animal imports, and the globalized world in which we live build an environment where pathogens and inflammatory pathogens from other countries can easily move.

Medical professionals are well prepared for the Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever. Today, all protocols have been followed and all 190 contacts with potentially ill patients are under investigation.

Can Crimean Congo bleeding fever be treated?

As we mentioned at the beginning, there is no vaccine for this virus. However, it can be treated. Doctors are using  ribavirin  to treat the infection and the results so far have been very satisfactory.

Finally, it is important to show that the patient mentioned at the beginning may have died due to a previous health problem or poor resistance of the body.