Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is a viral haemorrhagic fever usually transmitted by ticks. It can also be contracted through contact with viraemic animal ...Home/Healthtopics/Crimean-CongohaemorrhagicfeverOverviewCrimean-Congohaemorrhagicfeverisaviralhaemorrhagicfeverusuallytransmittedbyticks.Itcanalsobecontractedthroughcontactwithviraemicanimaltissues(animaltissuewherethevirushasenteredthebloodstream)duringandimmediatelypost-slaughterofanimals.CCHFoutbreaksconstituteathreattopublichealthservicesastheviruscanleadtoepidemics,hasahighcasefatalityratio(10-40%),potentiallyresultsinhospitalandhealthfacilityoutbreaks,andisdifficulttopreventandtreat.CCHFisendemicinallofAfrica,theBalkans,theMiddleEastandinAsia. ThediseasewasfirstdescribedintheCrimeain1944andgiventhenameCrimeanhaemorrhagicfever.In1969itwasrecognizedthatthepathogencausingCrimeanhaemorrhagicfeverwasthesameasthatresponsibleforanillnessidentifiedin1956intheCongo.Thelinkageofthetwoplacenamesresultedinthecurrentnameforthediseaseandthevirus.SymptomsFollowinginfectionbyatickbite,theincubationperiodofCrimean-Congohaemorrhagicfever(CCHF)isusuallyonetothreedays,withamaximumofninedays.Followingcontactwithinfectedbloodortissues,theincubationperiodisusuallyfivetosixdays,withamaximumof13days.  Onsetofsymptomsissudden,withfever,muscleache,dizziness,neckpain,backache,headache,soreeyesandphotophobia(sensitivitytolight).Theremaybenausea,vomiting,diarrhoea,abdominalpainandsorethroatearlyon,followedbysharpmoodswingsandconfusion.Aftertwotofourdays,theagitationmaybereplacedbysleepiness,depressionandlassitude,andtheabdominalpainmaylocalizetotheupperrightquadrant,withdetectablehepatomegaly(liverenlargement).  Otherclinicalsignsincludetachycardia(fastheartrate),lymphadenopathy(enlargedlymphnodes),andapetechialrash(arashcausedbybleedingintotheskin)oninternalmucosalsurfaces,suchasinthemouthandthroat,andontheskin.Thepetechiaemaygivewaytolargerrashescalledecchymoses,andotherhaemorrhagicphenomena.Thereisusuallyevidenceofhepatitis,andsev