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Patient dies of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever after being bitten by a tick in Spanish countryside
The Madrid man is the second victim to succumb to the deadly virus in Spain so far this summer
A 74-year-old man who contracted the deadly Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) after being bitten by a tick has died in a hospital in Madrid. The patient was admitted to the High Level Isolation Unit of La Paz-Carlos III Hospital on Friday July 26 and was dead less than 24 hours later.
In May, the Ministry of Health for Castile and León in northwestern Spain issued an urgent warning for holidaymakers after another patient died from the disease following a tick bite in Salamanca.
This latest victim went to the Emergency Department after he developed a fever and was feeling generally unwell. He told the medical staff that he had been bitten by a tick a few days earlier at his holiday home in Toledo.
Following the man’s rapid deterioration and eventual death, samples were sent to the National Centre for Microbiology and scientists confirmed that the victim had been infected by the Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever virus.
Symptoms of hemorrhagic fever
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever is a viral disease that is generally transmitted by ticks, specifically the Hyalomma tick which originated in Africa.
According to the Director General of Public Health of Castilla-La Mancha, Laura Ruiz, the symptoms of this disease appear in two phases: the first one begins with a sudden fever, headache and muscle pain, followed by the hemorrhagic phase, which is the most serious.
How to protect yourself
People are most likely to encounter ticks in the countryside, but they’re also rampant in other green areas like city parks, gardens and scrub land. When out for a walk, it’s best to stick to light-coloured clothes and socks, as well as long pants.
Sandals should be avoided, and if you’re in an area with high grass, consider tucking your trouser legs into your socks. There are plenty of repellents on the market for both people and animals.
Ticks also pose a serious threat to dogs, so make sure to check your pet over thoroughly after a walk.
In other news: UK tourist drowns in front of her family in Lanzarote
Image: Pixabay
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