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Date Published: 23/02/2022
ARCHIVED - Deadly hemorrhagic virus in five Spanish communities
The disease is transmitted to humans and animals by ticks in Spain and can be fatal
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are serious diseases that can occur in both animals and humans as a result of a viral infection, and can often result in death. One such illness caused by VHFs is Crimean-Congo fever, which has already been detected in five autonomous communities in Spain: Andalusia, Extremadura, Madrid, Castilla y León and Castilla-La Mancha.
According to a study published by the National Centre for Microbology, the first human case of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) was detected in Spain back in 2016 and was transmitted by a tick, although other animals such as deer and wild boar are also known to be transmitters.
You might also like: Ticks and canine ehrlichiosis — threats to the health of dogs in Spain
Among the most frequent symptoms caused by this disease are fever, muscle pain, dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, lumbago, headache, eye irritation and photophobia. Some patients have also experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal and throat pain, as well as sudden mood swings and confusion.
The World Health Organisation considers CCHF to be one of the seven highest-priority epidemic-prone diseases, posing a great public health risk due to the high case of fatalities reported in humans – approximately 30%. Because of its great capacity for mutation, CCHF could become aggressively transmissible in a very short amount of time if allowed to spread unchecked.
According to the experts, completely eradicating the virus in Spain is practically impossible, but practical measures such as wearing trousers and closed shoes when walking in long grass can greatly reduce the chances of contagion. In addition, after walks, both people and dogs should be checked thoroughly for ticks.
Also of interest: Exponential rise in ticks and mosquitos in Spain
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