Crimean hemorrhagic fever, or Crimean‑Congo fever, is one of the viral infections in which is damaged Viral hemorrhagic fevers / Mayo Clinic tiny blood vessels. A lot of microthrombs are formed in the places of damage, which should cover the "holes". But this process cannot last forever, because the protein reserves of the coagulation system are depleted. As a result, bleeding begins, which is difficult to stop. Therefore, all diseases with such a mechanism are called hemorrhagic fevers, from the word haemorrhagia — "bleeding".

Crimean hemorrhagic fever is caused by Crimean hemorrhagic fever caused by the Congo virus in adults. Clinical recommendations / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation neuroviruses of the family Bunyaviridae. They do not survive well in the external environment, so they need animal carriers ‑ ticks Hyalomma.

The disease is common in the same place where these arthropods live. The northern border runs approximately along the 50th parallel of north latitude. These are the territories of Portugal, France, Greece, Hungary, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Moldova, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia, as well as the south of Russia.

The second border runs through southern Africa.

How is Crimean hemorrhagic fever transmitted

Ticks can Congo‑Crimean hemorrhagic fever / WHO it's not just people who bite. These arthropods transmit the pathogens of the Crimean‑Congo fever to goats, cows, hares, hedgehogs, ostriches and other animals. In the latter, the disease does not manifest itself clearly, and the virus itself remains in the blood for about a week.

Infection is transmitted to humans by bites of ticks or by contact with infected blood or tissues of animals during and immediately after slaughter. Most often, people engaged in industrial animal husbandry are infected in this way: agricultural workers, employees of slaughterhouses and veterinarians. They also often get sick Crimean hemorrhagic fever caused by the Congo virus in adults. Clinical recommendations / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation tourists and rural residents.

Crimean hemorrhagic fever can be transmitted from person to person by contact with blood, secretions and other infected fluids, for example, by improper sterilization of medical equipment.

What is the danger of Crimean hemorrhagic fever

Crimean hemorrhagic fever can lead to Congo‑Crimean hemorrhagic fever / WHO to shock and kidney, lung and liver failure. According to various estimates, from 10 to 40% of cases die. WHO believes that from 30%.

What are the symptoms of Crimean hemorrhagic fever

Symptoms of fever do not appear immediately after infection. If the virus has entered the body as a result of a tick bite, the incubation period will be 1-3 days (maximum 9); if due to contact with infected blood or other fluids ‑ 5-6 days (maximum 13).

Then suddenly 1. Viral hemorrhagic fevers / Mayo Clinic
2. Congo‑Crimean hemorrhagic fever / WHO :

the temperature rises;
heartbeat accelerates;
fever or chills appear;
the head, bones, joints and muscles begin to ache;
eyes become sensitive to light;
fatigue, weakness and general malaise are felt;
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea may occur;
excitement sets in, which after 2-4 days is replaced by drowsiness, depression and increased fatigue;
there is pain in the right hypochondrium due to liver enlargement;
lymph nodes are enlarged;
a rash occurs on the skin and mucous membranes in the form of small hemorrhages.

After the fifth day of the disease, seriously ill patients may experience rapid deterioration of kidney function and sudden hepatic or pulmonary insufficiency. Death occurs in the second week.

In recovering patients, improvement usually begins on the 9th or 10th day after the onset of the disease.

How Crimean hemorrhagic fever is treated

helps against the virus itself Congo‑Crimean hemorrhagic fever / WHO the drug ribavirin. But the most important thing in the treatment of Crimean hemorrhagic fever is to fight the symptoms and support organs and systems so that shock and insufficiency do not occur.

For example, pour Crimean hemorrhagic fever caused by the Congo virus in adults. Clinical recommendations / Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation solutions through droppers to avoid dehydration and shock, to maintain breathing with oxygen or artificial ventilation, to give painkillers, to conduct dialysis for kidney failure, that is, to purify the blood using the device.

How to protect yourself from Crimean hemorrhagic fever

There are no preventive vaccinations against Crimean hemorrhagic fever, so you can only try to avoid infection.

How to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus from a tick to a person

These are standard tips that work Congo‑Crimean hemorrhagic fever / WHO against any ticks:

Wear clothes with long sleeves and pant legs.
Choose light things, because it's easier to notice a tick on them.
Treat yourself and your clothes with acaricidal agents, for example, based on permethrin.
Regularly inspect yourself and your clothes in order to have time to brush off the pest before it bites.
Avoid places where there may be a lot of ticks, especially during their activity.
Protect animals from ticks and fight them in the rooms where cattle and other inhabitants of the farm live.

How to reduce the risk of transmission of the virus from animal to human

Those who work with animals need Congo‑Crimean hemorrhagic fever / WHO :

wear gloves and other protective clothing when handling animals or their tissues in endemic areas, especially during the slaughter and butchering of carcasses in slaughterhouses or at home;
keep animals in quarantine until they are admitted to slaughterhouses or treat them with pesticides in the usual way two weeks before slaughter.

How to reduce the risk of human-to-human transmission of the virus

Still, these measures are more about health workers, but they also need to be known Congo‑Crimean hemorrhagic fever / WHO :

Avoid close physical contact with people infected with Crimean hemorrhagic fever.
Wear gloves and protective clothing when caring for patients.
Regularly wash your hands after caring for sick people or visiting them.