Crimean Congo fever outbreak in Iraq, infected people are bleeding to death

Iraq is seeing a fever outbreak that causes individuals to bleed to death, according to reports from the country's media. According to the World Health Organization, the sickness goes by the name of  Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. The fever has claimed 19 lives out of 111 cases this year.

More than half of the country's cases of the disease have been recorded in Iraq's southern province.

Severe bleeding both inside and externally, notably from the nose is attributed to the virus, according to doctors. The death rate in these situations is around two-fifths.

According to health official Haidar Hantouche in Dhi Qar province, "the incidence rate registered is exceptional."

This virus was discovered in 1979 in Iraq. However, officials have been astonished by the sudden increase in cases this year.

Is there anything we know about it?

CCHF is thought to be brought on by exposure with a tick-borne virus, according to the CDC.

Crimean hemorrhagic fever was the term given to the disease when it was first discovered in Crimea in 1944. In 1969, it was identified as the causative agent of sickness in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, giving rise to the disease's present name.

A wide range of regions, including the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Balkans, are affected.

Infected ticks bite animals, causing them to become infected.

Tick bites or contact with the infected animal carcasses or tissues during or soon after slaughter are the two main routes through which the CCHF virus is spread to humans.

Between 10% and 40% of CCHF's deaths are attributed only to the WHO.

Is there a way to avoid this?

There is no vaccination for this virus, and it might appear suddenly. The long-term implications of CCHF infection in survivors have not been examined thoroughly enough by the CDC to establish whether or not particular problems are present, according to the agency. Recovery, on the other hand, is sluggish.

Farmers and veterinarians are the primary objectives of this campaign.

The virus is "mainly transmitted" to humans by ticks on cattle, hence the majority of cases are among veterinarians, slaughterhouse employees  and farmers, according to the WHO.

According to the CDC, "Human-to-human transfer can occur as a result of close contact with infected people' blood, body fluids, or organs."

In addition to the uncontrollable bleeding, the virus produces an extremely high temperature and vomiting.

When Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha in July, they usually butcher an animal to serve as a meal for their guests.

It's bad for slaughterhouses.

Many butchers report that the number of animals coming for slaughter has dropped to half their typical levels as a result of the illness.  The Director of Najaf Veterinary Hospital, said that people are terrified of red meat because they believe it might spread disease.