There are reports of a highly contagious virus spreading across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It is feared that this virus could soon become the biggest public health threat.
The Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), which has broken out in Iraq and Namibia, is spreading rapidly. There have been cases in Spain and deaths recorded in Pakistan. An urgent health warning has been issued, as it is feared that climate change will accelerate the virus, making it the biggest threat to public health at present.
Symptoms of the virus include;
-headaches
-high fever
-back and joint pain
-stomach ache
-vomiting
-red eyes
-flushed face
-red throat and
-petechiae(red spots) on the palate.
The disease is caused by Nairovirus and has a fatality rate of 10 to 40 percent, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The World Health Organisation(WHO) has stated that human-to-human transmission of the virus can happen when there is close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals.
Currently, there is no vaccine available for people or animals infected by the disease. CCHF is transmitted to people through either tick bites or contact with infected animal blood or tissues immediately after slaughter.
CCHF can infect a wide range of wild and domestic animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats.
According to WHO, individuals who work in the livestock industry, such as agricultural workers, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinarians, are at higher risk of contracting CCHF.
