Increase in Crimean-Congo Fever Cases in Iran; Three People Have Died

The Iranian Ministry of Health reports that the number of Crimean-Congo fever cases has increased this year, with 'three people having lost their lives due to this disease.' According to ISNA, Mohammad Reza Shirzadi, head of the group for managing zoonotic diseases at the Ministry of Health, stated that 28 cases of Crimean hemorrhagic fever have been reported in the country since the beginning of this year. Illegal slaughter and transportation of meat products, as well as the unauthorized sale of raw animal products and unsanitary slaughter by untrained individuals, have been cited as reasons for the rise in the prevalence of this disease in the country. Additionally, the activity of illegal butchers, who usually sell meat at lower prices, is one of the reasons for the spread of this disease in Iran. Crimean-Congo fever is a viral disease transmitted by ticks, with a common origin between humans and livestock. Individuals who work with livestock and handle tissues, such as butchers and slaughterhouse workers, are at higher risk of infection. The incubation period of the virus depends on how it is transmitted. After infection through a tick bite, the incubation period is usually one to three days, with a maximum of nine days. The incubation period after contact with contaminated blood or tissues is typically five to six days, with a maximum of 13 days. This disease presents symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, dizziness, neck stiffness, eye pain, light sensitivity, and in the early stages, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. As the disease progresses, extensive bruising occurs, and the patient experiences severe nosebleeds starting around the fourth day of illness, lasting about two weeks. The antiviral drug 'Ribavirin' is prescribed orally and by injection for the treatment of this disease. 21 suspected cases of Crimean-Congo fever have been identified in Gilan. The Ministry of Health has banned the slaughter of livestock in homes.