In Herat, Afghanistan, over the last two months, there have been as many as 36 cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever reported, according to Khaama Press. Mohammad Asif Kabir, the deputy director of public health in Herat, was quoted as saying that five individuals had passed away as a result of the fever. He claimed that this year saw a spike in the number of cases, raising worries among officials about the disease’s potential for spreading.
According to Khaama Press, over 90 people in Afghanistan have contracted Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in the past week, and seven people have died as a result of the illness so far this summer.
Hayatullah Emami, director of Takhar Provincial hospital, spoke to Khaama Press and said, “We are fully prepared because this disease is not new, and we have better measures in Takhar provincial hospital than in the past.”
Najibullah Tawana, director of the health department of Balkh, averred, “Ten positive cases of Congo have been recorded; sadly, we had two deaths. The Abu Ali Sinai regional hospital in Balkh has its own particular preparations, and the 50-bed Antani hospital is also ready.”
Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), which has a case fatality rate of 10–40%, is transmitted by a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of the Bunyaviridae family, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The CCHF virus is transmitted to people either by tick bites or through contact with infected animal blood or tissues during and immediately after slaughter,” WHO stated in a statement.
