Alert in Spain and Greece as 'priority' illness breaks out - signs to watch for

Daily Record

3 days ago

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has said that Greece and Spain have both seen a number of people struck down with Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF)
A warning has been issued after Spain and Greece were struck by surging cases of a deadly illness which claims the lives of around a third of those infected - with one region branded a hotspot.
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Since the start of 2025, and as of 23 July 2025, two European nations have recorded cases of Crimean Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF). Infections have been discovered in Spain and Greece - with the latter outbreak being labelled as 'unexpected'.
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Experts from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed the Greece cases have been identified in the Thessaly region.
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Last year the Parliament Science, Innovation and Technology Committee disclosed that it was "highly likely" the UK would shortly witness cases.
The UK Health Security Agency has stated that an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 human infections happen worldwide each year, including roughly 500 deaths.
Nevertheless, this number is probably underestimated owing to unreported cases. The spike has been flagged by the UK Travel Health Pro website which is supported by the Foreign Office.
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The ECDC stated: "The cases in Greece that occurred in the Thessaly region are unexpected, as this region and neighbouring regions have not reported CCHF cases or CCHF virus circulation in animals previously.
"The primary case was probably infected through a tick bite, while the secondary case was a healthcare professional who provided care to the primary case, although the exact transmission route is still under scrutiny.
"These are the first cases since 2008, when the only other locally acquired case reported by Greece to date was found in the Thrace region (bordering Bulgaria)."
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Regarding the cases detected in Spain, the ECDC's latest report published this week revealed that instances in Salamanca had been previously documented.
The report stated: "From 2016 to 2024, a total of 16 autochthonous CCHF cases have been reported in Spain, with dates of disease onset between April and August.
"The province of Salamanca is a hotspot for CCHF, with 50% of the cases being exposed to ticks. Two cases have been detected in previous years in the same locality as the current case. In this area, the presence of Hyalomma marginatum, the main vector of this disease, is well known, and studies conducted in wild and domestic animals have shown seroprevalence higher than 70% for CCHF virus.
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"Although the risk of contracting CCHF for the general population in the areas where the virus is known to be present in Spain is low, this risk drastically increases for people performing activities that expose them to tick bites. (e.g. hunting, forestry work, hiking, animal surveillance). "".
The illness is triggered by Nairovirus, which spreads through tick bites and carries a death rate of between 10 and 40 per cent, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). Usually discovered in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and Asia, the illness might be spreading beyond its traditional regions and heading towards nations such as Britain and France owing to climate change.
The World Health Organisation has listed CCHF among its nine "priority diseases", a designation that underscores the most serious public health risks.
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The ailment was first recorded in Crimea in 1944, impacting soldiers and agricultural workers, and by 1969 researchers had confirmed that the organism responsible was identical to the virus that had been extracted from a Congolese youngster in 1956.
What to do to avoid it.
The ECDC said: 'As a general precaution against CCHF, but also against other tick-borne diseases, people who may potentially be exposed to ticks should apply personal protective measures against tick bites. '
Signs of CCHF.
In severe cases, the WHO warns, sufferers may develop jaundicing of the skin, mood swings and modified sensory perception.
As the illness progresses, widespread serious bruising, profuse nosebleeds, and uncontrolled bleeding at injection sites may occur, usually beginning around the fourth day of the condition and continuing for roughly two weeks.
Throughout documented CCHF outbreaks, fatality rates amongst hospitalised patients have ranged from nine per cent to as high as 50 per cent.