High number of CCHF cases in Afghanistan: an assessment conducted

Afghanistan has experienced an unusual increase in cases and deaths from Crimean- Congo Hemorrhagic Fever [CCHF] during 2017 with Herat province being the most affected. Up to date, a total of 242 cases including 42 deaths [CFR: 17.35%] have been reported in 27 out of 34 provinces. WHO organized a technical mission in February 2018 to support activities for improving prevention and control efforts

CCHF in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has reported unusual increase in cases of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF]. The increase is mainly in Herat province in the western part of the country. As of week 33, 154 cases including 35 deaths [CFR=22.7%] have been reported countrywide

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in Afghanistan

The Ministry of Public Health in Afghanistan recently reported an increase in the number of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever [CCHF] cases in the country. In 2017, a total of 237 cases of CCHF in-cluding 41 deaths [CFR: 17.2%] have been reported throughout 27 provinces. Majority of these cases-71 cases including 13 associated deaths [CFR: 18.3%], were reported from the capital city, Kabul

CCHF in Pakistan: cases rise

Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever [CCHF] cases recorded a dramatic rise in Pakistan this year. From 01 January to 19 October 2016, a total of 431 suspected cases including 60 deaths [CFR: 14%] were reported from four provinces across the country

Dengue fever and CCHF in Pakistan

In recent weeks, 2,160 suspected cases of dengue fever including 919 laboratory-confirmed cases have been reported from Pakistan. The number of deaths from dengue fever has risen to 7 so far. Additionally, 22 laboratory-confirmed cases of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever [CCHF] including 3 deaths have also been reported from Pakistan since 16th of September till date. In one of the hospitals in Pakistan, nosocomial spread of CCHF amongst health care workers has also been reported during this period [Please see weekly epidemiological monitor, volume-3; issue no 41; 10 October 2010]

outcome of patients with crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever in Zahedan, southeast of Iran: a comparative study

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever was rarely reported from Iran before 1999. In a recent outbreak, the disease has been reported from different provinces of Iran, especially from Sistan and Baluchestan. Ribavirin has been recommended by World Health Organization as a potential therapeutic modality for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever. This study was conducted to determine the clinical outcome and the effect of ribavirin in two groups of patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever who were treated at different times. In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever who were admitted to Boo-Ali Hospital in Zahedan, a subtropical area in southeastern Iran, at the first three years after beginning of the last outbreak [1999 - 2003] and those who were admitted during 2005 - 2007. First, we found all patients with confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever infection who were treated with oral ribavirin. Then, they were evaluated for recovery and mortality rate. We evaluated 123 patients with confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever infection [91 patients treated between 1999 and 2003, and 32 patients between 2005 and 2007]. Among the 91 patients, 73 [80%] survived, and 18 [20%] died of the disease. During 2005 - 2007, among the 32 patients who were treated within three days of onset of the disease, only one [3%] died of the disease. The recovery rate was higher among patients who were admitted during 2005 - 2007 than those hospitalized between 1999 and 2003 [97% vs. 80%]. There was a significant [P=0.001] difference in the mortality rate between the two groups. Prompt treatment with oral ribavirin can increase the recovery rate in patients with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever

Case report: histopatological findings in necropsy of a patient with fatal crimean-congo hemorrhagic fever in Iran

Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever [CCHF] is a potentially fatal viral disease. Humans usually acquire the illness through tick bite or from contact with infected blood or other tissues from patients or livestock. CCHF is reported from most parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. This illness was endemic in the eastern provinces of the Caspian sea and has been described in old Iranian medical references. Because of the low incidence, reports on histopathologic findings are relatively few and limited worldwide.In this study we review the necropsy findings of a 24-year old woman with fatal form of CCHF in whom the diagnosis was established with positive viral culture and positive ELISA and RT-PCR in WHO reference laboratory. In liver, hepatocyte necrosis without inflammatory cells; in bone marrow, hyperplasia of all three cell lines with myeloid preponderance; in lungs, polymorphonuclear infiltration in alveolar spaces and alveolar edema; in kidneys, glomerular necrosis, interstitial edema and tubular necrosis, and in brain, generalized edema with degenerative and cystic changes were found. There was no pathologic finding in striated muscle samples with light microscopy. In brief, these findings are compatible with multi-organ failure. Because of many new cases of this disease in recent years in Iran, widespread research for evaluation of histopathological changes is needed in Iranian patients to assist physicians and pathologists towards prompt diagnosis

situation of nosocomial infection from patients with congo/crimean hemorrhagic fever in Makkah

From 20 May 1990 to 12 December 1992, 28 patients with Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever were admitted in King Faisal Hospital, Makkah. All the patients were evaluated clinically and laboratory and finally diagnosed by the using antibody titer. 15 hospital staff [in close contact with the patients were screened for the clinical manifestations laboratory results and the antibody titer to Congo- Crimean hemorrhagic fever. The results revealed that the secondary case of the disease in Makkah was unusual and the air borne route does not play any role in the transmission of the disease