CRIMEAN CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

OVER VIEW OF CRIMEAN CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

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A TICK CAUSING CRIMEAN CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER

INTRODUCTION

        Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a zoonotic viral disease that is asymptomatic in infected animals, but a serious threat to humans. Human infections begin with nonspecific febrile symptoms, but progress to a serious hemorrhagic syndrome with a high case fatality rate. Although the causative virus is often transmitted by ticks, animal-to-human and human-to-human transmission also occur. This disease is a particular threat to farmers and other agricultural workers, veterinarians, laboratory workers and hospital personnel.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is one of the most widely distributed viral hemorrhagic fevers. This disease occurs in much of Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as parts of Europe. Changes in climatic conditions could expand the range of its tick vectors, and increase the incidence of disease. The CCHF virus is also a potential bioterrorist agent; it has been listed in the U.S. as a CDC/NIAID Category C priority pathogen.

ETIOLOGY

        Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is caused by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV). This virus is a member of the genus Nairovirus in the family Bunyaviridae. It belongs to the CCHF serogroup.
        Although early serological studies revealed very few differences between strains of CCHFV, nucleic acid sequence analysis has demonstrated extensive genetic diversity, particularly between viruses from different geographic regions.

Geographic Distribution

        CCHFV is widespread in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. It has also been found in parts of Europe including southern portions of the former USSR (Crimea, Astrakhan, Rostov, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan), Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Kosovo province of the former Yugoslavia. Limited serological evidence suggests that CCHFV might also occur in parts of Hungary, France and Portugal. The occurrence of this virus is correlated with the distribution of Hyalomma spp., the principal tick vectors.
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