The Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus, commonly known as Congo fever is very deadly, and a 51-year-old man has died of it recently.

It has a case fatality rate of 1040 per cent. This virus causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks. CCHFa deadly viral disease that causes severe organ failure, according to doctors. Commonly known as Congo fever, the case is the first reported fatality from the infection in the past five years.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever: According to theWorld Health Organization– CCHF is a widespread disease caused by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of theBunyaviridaefamily, which causes severe viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks, with a case fatality rate of 1040 per cent.

CCHF is endemic in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, and Asian countries south of the 50th parallel norththe geographical limit of the principal tick vector.

The hosts of the CCHF virus include a wide range of wild and domestic animals like cattle, sheep, and goats.

Virustransmitted to humans:

Human-to-human transmission can occur resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected persons.

Signs and symptoms of CCHF:Doctors say the length of the incubation period of the infection depends on the mode of acquisition of the virus.

A few symptoms caused by the virus include:

High fever

Myalgia or muscle aches

Dizziness

Neck pain

Stiffness

Backache

Headache

Sore eyes

Photophobia or sensitivity to light

Nausea and vomiting,

Diarrhea

Abdominal pain

Sore throat

Sharp mood swings

Confusion and delirium

Sleepiness

Depression

Fast heart rate

Enlarged lymph nodes

Petechial rash

How to prevent the infection?

Experts say it is difficult to prevent or control CCHF in animals and ticks as the tick-animal-tick cycle usually goes unnoticed and the infection in domestic animals is usually not apparent.

There are no vaccines available for use in animals.

In the absence of a vaccine, the only way to reduce infection in people is by raising awareness of the risk factors and educating people about the measures they can take to reduce exposure to the virus.